


:£> 







LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 









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GEORGE K. LITTLE, 



AND HIS 



REVIVAL WORK; 

COMPRISING 

A HISTORY OF HIS LIFE, CONVERSION, AND SIX YEARS OF 
EVANGELISTIC WORK. 



BY REV, R, E, WILLIAMS, A, M, 



He that Winneth Souls is Wise." — Prov. xi : 30. 




dayton, ohio! 

United Brethren Publishing House. 

1887. 




. L 5 3 W5 



Copyright, 1887, 
By Rev. R. E. Williams. 



LC c °ntrol Number 




^P^e 031635 



PREFACE. 



God employs different agencies for the dissemination of truth, and the 
accomplishment of his purposes. While the spoken word may electrify 
the hearts of hearers, and, by its direct appeal, arouse to action, and while 
that which is communicated orally may seem to impress itself indelibly 
upon our consciousness, yet the written page has also its mission, equal, 
if not greater. It speaks to larger audiences, and to hearts and minds in 
a mood which, if not as active, may yet be more receptive to truth as it is 
presented to them. 

While the life of one filled with the Holy Ghost may be blessing hearts 
and lives, and leaving its influence upon those with whom it may come in 
contact, the record of that life and its unselfish labors for truth and right- 
eousness may enrich others by its perusal, and incite to a holier ambition, 
and to better service for the Master, many others with whom circum- 
stances would prevent a closer acquaintance. 

And so this record is sent forth, that those who have not seen or heard, 
may read what the Holy Spirit can accomplish through human instru- 
mentality. 

Many interesting incidents connected with these revivals of which we 
are writing, are not recorded. Numbers of revivals receive only a passing 
notice, as Mr. L,ittle himself kept no account of them, and others were 
too much engaged in the spirit of the work to think of noting down at the 
time any report of the services, and hence were compelled to depend en- 
tirely upon their memories when reporting at a later date. Enough, how- 
ever, are fully reported to show their extent and power. 

I acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. J. Hoke, of Chambersburg, Penn- 
sylvania, Mr. M. Hatfield, of Indianapolis, Indiana, Rev. D. R. Grover, of 
Huron, Dakota, and others, for reports of revivals and information con- 
cerning the work. 

These pages have been prayerfully written, with the hope that by their 
perusal some soul may seek and obtain the baptism of the Holy Ghost, 
and thereby be enabled to labor with enlarged usefulness in the vineyard 
of the Master. 

R. E. Williams. 

Lisbon, Iowa, February i, i88j. 

iii 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Preface iii 

Introduction xi 

CHAPTER I. 

PARENTAGE AND LIFE UNTIL CONVERSION. 

Parentage — Death of Father — A Mother's Care — Death of Mother — 
In 1871 Placed in Baltimore Manual Labor School — Int872 Goes 
to Live with his Brother — Apprenticed in a Printing-Office — Edu- 
cational Advantages — Love of Books 9 

CHAPTER II. 

CONVERSION AND COMMENCEMENT OF EVANGELISTIC WORK. 

His Conversion — Uniting with the Church — Distributing Tracts — 
Acting as Sabbath-School Missionary — Leading the Children to 
the Sabbath-School — Power in Prayer — Position Still Retained in 
Printing-Office — Persecution — Persecution Changed to Respect — 
Call to Engage Exclusively in Revival Work — Removal to Laurel, 
Maryland — Assists in Revival Meetings — Daniel's Praying Band 
Organized — Advised by Friends to go out as an Evangelist — Goes 
to God in Prayer — Final Decision — Beginning of Evangelistic 
"Work — Woodberry Revival 15 

CHAPTER III. 

REVIVALS AT YORK AND CHAMBERSBURG. 

Goes to York — The Pastor's Report — Extract from a Letter Written by 
the Evangelist — Labors Closed with a Watch-Night Service — Ar- 
rival at Chambersburg — The Church Aroused — Remarks of J. 

Hoke 23 

V 



VI TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IV. 

REVIVALS AT HARRISBURG AND NEW CUMBERLAND, PENNSYLVANIA. 

Harrisburg — Crowded House — Requests for Prayer — Experience 
Meetings — Children's Meetings — New Church — Call to New Cum- 
berland — Much Fatigued — Rest at Baltimore — Goes to New Cum- 
berland — Correspondent's Report — Result of Meeting 28 

CHAPTER V. 

REVIVALS AT BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND LIMA AND ELIDA, OHIO. 

Revival at Williams Street Independent Methodist Church — House 
Crowded with People — Scores Ask for the Prayers of the Church 

— Penitents Cry Aloud for Mercy — Revival Influence Extends to 
Other Churches — Report by Correspondent — Without Invitation 
Sinners Come Forward to the Altar — Many Requests for Prayer 

— Deep Conviction — Children Saved — More than Six Hundred 
Converted — Tribute to the Boy Preacher — Meeting at Lima — Re- 
port by Pastor — Elida Meeting — No Faith as to a Revival — Prayer 

at Family Altar — Faith Increased — Letter, and Report by Pastor.. 32 

CHAPTER VI. 

REVIVALS AT BETHEL AND SPRING- GROVE, WISCONSIN. 

Goes to Wisconsin — Gains the Confidence of the People — Faith of the 
Church Strengthened — Predicts a Gracious Revival — Consecration 
Service — Discouragements — Exhorts the Church to Pray — Great 
Victory — Report of Pastor — Spring Grove — Reported by the Pastor 

— Element of Division in the Church — Exhortation to the Church 

— Harmony Again Prevailing — All Denominations Assist in the 
Work — Result of Revival 40. 

CHAPTER VII. 

REVIVAL AT MONROE, WISCONSIN. 

Call to Monroe — Congregational Church Secured for the Meetings- 
Pastor's Report— Short History of the Various Churches There — 
Faith of the People with Regard to a Revival— Interest Manifested 
from the Start— Prayer of Evangelist that a Dramatic Company 
may Attend Church— A Dance Postponed — Great Number of Con- 
versions— A Society Organized— The Revival a Benefit to All 
Churches 5 1 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. Vll 

CHAPTER VIII. 

REVIVALS AT RUTLAND AND CASCADE, WISCONSIN. 

Goes to Rutland — Penitents at the Altar at the Second Service — 
Church too Small to Accommodate the People — Mr. Little Sends 
for his Tabernacle — Arrangements Made to Accommodate One 
Thousand People — Report to the Religiotis Telescope — A Dance 
Announced in Opposition to the Meeting — Closes with an All Day 
Service — Baptism of Mr. Little — Result of the Meeting — Revival 
at Cascade — Preaches to the Church — Consecration Service — Op- 
posed by Saloonists — A Young Lady Comes to the Altar at the 
Commencement of the Service — Pastor's Report — Seventy-five 
Conversions 58 

CHAPTER IX. 

REVIVALS AT LAGONDA, OHIO, VEEDERSBURGH, INDIANA, AND ROSSVILLE, 

ILLINOIS. 

Work at Lagonda — Preaches to the Church — Report from "Lagonda 
News" — Large Numbers at the Altar — Report from the Spring- 
field Republic — Number of Conversions — Veedersburgh Revival — 
Pastor's Report — Result of Meeting — Revival at Rossville — Per- 
manency of the Work — Number of Conversions 65 

CHAPTER X. 

REVIVAL AT INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 

Indianapolis Church — Arrival of Evangelist — The People Disappoint- 
ed — Preaches to Attentive Listeners — Urges the Church to En- 
tire Consecration — A Full House on Second Night of Meeting — 
Day Meetings and Young People's Meetings — Interest Increasing 
— Consecration Service — Altar Crowded with Penitents — Evan- 
gelist's Sermon on Sufferings of Christ — Extract from the Sentinel 
— Forty Conversions During First Week — All Denominations En- 
gage in the Work — Great Crowds — Large Numbers Saved — 
Services at Opera House — Note from Religious Telescope — Report 
from the Daily Sentinel — Calls to Other Churches — Numbers 
Saved Daily 73 

CHAPTER XL 

INDIANAPOLIS REVIVAL, CONTINUED. 

Mr. Little Again at the Opera House — Report from Daily Times — 
Fourth Week — Interest Still Increasing — Ten Conversions Sab- 



Vlll TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

bath Night — Great Crowds — Altar Service Impossible — Mason 
Long at one of the Services — Extract from Daily Times — Sermon 
by A. Armen — Closing Service — Number of Conversions — Re- 
vival at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church — Number of Conver- 
sions — Revival Continues at Oak Street — Incidents Connected 
with Revival at Oak Street — Remarks Concerning Evangelist 88 

CHAPTER XII. 

TABERXACLE AND CAMP-MEETINGS. 

Meeting at Fennimore, Wisconsin — A United Brethren Society Organ- 
ized — Closing Services — A Meeting of Great Power — Number of 
Conversions — Camp-Meeting at Lisbon, Iowa — Results of the 
Meeting — Camp-Meeting at Elgin, Iowa — Christians Earnestly 
Engaged in the Work — Sabbath Services — Large Crowds — Peni- 
tents Come to the Altar at Morning Worship — Number of Con- 
versions — Revival Influence Reaches to Other Communities 105 

CHAPTER XIII. 

REVIVALS AT WEST UNION AND CASTALIA, IOWA. 

Revival at West Union — A Fair in Progress — Interest Increasing — A 
Dramatic Troupe Decide Not to Visit the Town — Great Crowds 
Attend the Meetings — Many Seeking Christ — Closing Service — 
Meeting at Castalia — Skating Rink Closed — A Ball Announced 
Which Failed to Draw the People — A General Awakening — Whole 
Families Come to Christ — Testimonies ill 

CHAPTER XIV. 

MARRIAGE, AND SOURCES OF POWER. 

Marriage — Sketch of Mrs. Little — Sources of Power — Earnestness and 
Faith — Singing an Important Part of Service — Power of Song — 
Instances of its Power in Leading Souls to God — Communion with 
God — Baptism of the Holy Spirit — Co-operation of the Churches.. 117 

CHAPTER XV. 

REVIVALS AT GIBSON CITY AND LEXINGTON, ILLINOIS. 

Revival at Gibson City — Church Crowded — Penitents at the Altar — 
The Sermon on the New Birth — Catholic Lady Saved — Without 
Invitation Penitents Come to the Altar — Stores Closed — Notice 
from Religious Telescope — A Thrilling Scene — Infidels Converted 
— Results of the Work — Revival at Lexington — Interesting Meet- 
ings — From Lexington Reviezv — Number of Conversions 125 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX 

CHAPTER XVI. 

OTHER MEETINGS. 

Revival at Westfield, Illinois — Report from Westfield Pantagraph — 
Result of Meeting — Revival at Kingman, Kansas — Report from 
Religions Telescope — From Kingman Leader — Number of Con- 
versions — Sterling Revival — Revival at Salina — Extract from 
Opening Sermon — Number of Conversions — Meeting at Russell 

— Evangelist in Wisconsin 138 

CHAPTER XVII. 

LETTERS. 

Letter from Rossville, Illinois — From Presiding Elder of Central Illi- 
nois Conference — From Pastors at Lexington — Letter from Former 
Pastor at Indianapolis — From Salina, Kansas 151 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

CHARACTER AND RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. 

Character — Religious Experience — Desire for a Pure Heart —At Clear 
Lake — The Sermon by Rev. William McDonald — Consecration to 
God — Temptations — Final Victory 157 

CHAPTER XIX. 

INCIDENTS. 

The Wedding Garment — Saved at the Eleventh Hour — Not To-Night 

— Answered Prayer — An Infidel Saved — Saved at Midnight — An 
Infidel's Confession — Grieving the Spirit 163 

CHAPTER XX. 
Conclusion 170 



NTRODUCTION 



In studying the history of the life and labors of those men who have 
stood prominently before the world as religious teachers, and especially 
those who have been engaged extensively in evangelistic work, we be- 
come aware of the fact that the leading incidents and the general outlines 
■of their work present a striking similarity. Their work, it is true, differs 
in detail, but the history in outline is the same. Whether it be the history 
of a Whitefield, whose impassioned addresses reached the hearts of thous- 
ands, or of the enthusiasm of an Edwards, or of the vast results accom- 
plished in the life of a Finney, or of a Moody, it is always the same story 
of a life of toil, and of entire consecration to the Master and to the work 
of rescuing and saving precious souls. Though the history of such work 
presents a sameness — because the same ends are always sought, the same 
scenes must be portrayed — yet to the serious reader it will not be monot- 
onous, for the vast results accomplished are trophies of the church's vic- 
tory and an earnest of her final triumph. 

As in the early times of the church the Scriptures assert that Christ 
"gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and 
some, pastors and teachers; " so in all her later history there have been dif- 
ferent orders of men in the ministry — each in his allotted place. Now, 
as then, are men called to go from place to place, proclaiming the gospel. 
And although they may introduce new measures, and employ methods not 
used in regular religious effort, yet they are evidently called of God, giv- 
ing full proof of their ministrj^ by the thousands of souls they have been 
instrumental in bringing to God. They can not take the place of a pastor; 
their work is rather to help the pastor bring to a conclusion the work of 
teaching, of preparing the soil and sowing the seed preparatory to the 
harvest, which, by their united efforts, shall be gathered. The pastor has 
many lines of work to follow, many interests to which he must turn his 
attention, and is, therefore, unable to give his whole time or attention to 
one interest alone. The evangelist, with his thoughts given to one object 
alone, and with heart aglow from continuous revival work, comes to sup- 
plement his labors and gather the results. Evangelists have been, and are, 
subject to sharp criticism, coming from honest Christian people; this not 

xi 



Xll INTRODUCTION. 

from personal dislike, but from a dislike to the means and measures em- 
ployed by them. That they make mistakes, is not improbable; and that 
their mode of operation may be new and somewhat startling to the church 
which has become somewhat stereotyped in its manner of worship, may 
be true. Yet may it not be that in this consists at least a part of their use- 
fulness? We may not know how far we are restricted in our religious 
movements by our fear of departing from an established rule of worship, 
nor how much more freely the Holy Spirit might work in and through us 
to the glory of God, if we were willing to open our hearts fully to his 
teaching, without fear of being called erratic or peculiar. The evangelist 
comes with his irregularity, and the church witnesses that his labors are 
blessed, and is startled out of old ruts and infused with new enthusiasm 
by his earnestness. 

Manj' of them have done a good and grand work. And among those 
who have labored successfully in the evangelistic field is the subject of 
this sketch, who has been instrumental, through God, in leading thousands 
to Christ. p E. W. 



G. ¥[. tittle ai?5 His J^eViVal Work 



CHAPTER I. 

PARENTAGE AND LIFE UNTIL CONVERSION. 

Parentage — Death of Father — A Mother's Care — Death of Mother — In 
1871 Placed in Baltimore Manual Labor School — In 1872 Goes to 
Live with his Brother — Apprenticed in a Printing-Office — Educa- 
tional Advantages — Love of Books. 

Rev. George Kirkley Little was born, January 27, 1860. 
His father, Rev. Geo. 0. Little, was a native of Mary- 
land, a minister of the gospel in the Church of the United 
Brethren in Christ, and a member of the Virginia Confer- 
ence. "While laboring in the ministry his health failed, 
and having resigned his work, he removed to Baltimore 
and became associate editor of the Baltimore Clipper, a 
daily newspaper published in that city. Previous to this 
he had edited the Standard, published at East Berlin, 
Pennsylvania, and for a short time after the first organi- 
zation of the American Party he edited a paper called 
the Young America, at Wheeling, Virginia. 

During his stay at Baltimore, he united with the Balti- 
more Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
He resided but a short time in Baltimore, his health 

9< 



10 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

failing so rapidly that lie was forced to resign his posi- 
tion. He then removed to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 
April 16, 1860, and died, May 16th, in great peace, leav- 
ing a wife and two sons — Ephraim, a boy of ten years, 
and George, the subject of this sketch, aged three and 
one half months. As his life had been exemplary, so was 
his death triumphant, his only sorrow being the thought 
of leaving his wife and little children unprotected and 
alone. But a few days before his death he came into 
the house with a radiant countenance, and clapping his 
hands he shouted, "Glory to t God!" When the inquiry 
was made by his wife as to the cause of this sudden out- 
burst of feeling, he said: "I have been communing with 
God, and he has blessed my soul, and given me the vic- 
tory. Kow T I shall not fear to leave you alone, for Christ 
will be with you, and he who has promised to be a hus- 
band to the widow and a father to the fatherless, will be 
your guide." Then, says an eye-witness, followed a 
scene w r hich baffled description. For upon this home, 
over which hung the shadow of coming sorrow and 
death, the power of the Holy Ghost came down and filled 
each sorrowing heart with joy. 

In a short time the end came. Friends gathered round 
him, and he exhorted each to prepare to meet him in 
heaven. Turning to his older son he said, "Ephraim, 
be a good boy; live so you may meet me again." Then, 
as his wife brought the baby to his side, he placed his 
hands upon its head, and prayed, "Oh God! let my 
mantle fall upon this my son." The years that have 
followed have borne record that to that dying prayer the 
Divine answer came. Said Mr. Little, in the presence 
of a large audience, "Do you w r onder at me standing 



PARENTAGE. 11 

where I do? I could not do otherwise." After pray- 
ing thus for his child, he requested them to sing that 
beautiful hymn which has often come as a consolation 
to God's afflicted people: 

"There'll be no sorrow there, 
In heaven above, where all is love, 
There'll be no sorrow there." 

And thus triumphantly he passed through the " valley of 
the shadow of death," unto that "city which hath foun- 
dations, whose builder and maker is God." It is said of 
him that he was a man of stainless purity of character, 
a practical Christian, a kind husband and father, and a 
good citizen; exhibiting such gentleness and forbear- 
ance in all his intercourse with men, as to win the respect 
and esteem of all who knew him. 

Mrs. Little, formerly Miss Martha Hanaway, was an 
intelligent, earnest Christian woman, and a great worker 
in the church. Left with two boys to train for future 
usefulness, she realized her great responsibility, and con- 
stantly sought guidance and wisdom from above; and by 
her godly walk and Christian teaching, she thus helped 
to mold and shape the religious character of her son. 
Only a few years were allotted her with her children. 
Yet her life left an impression upon their youthful minds 
which can never be effaced. 

Although in delicate health for some time, yet her 
death came very suddenly. George came to her bedside 
one evening as usual for a good-night kiss, and started 
to his room without a thought of coming sorrow; when 
half way up the stairs, he stopped and shouted back, 
<■ Good-night, mother! " In the morning the servant girl 
came to his bedside and awoke him, saying, "George, 



12 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

your mother is dead!" "Oh! had I known," he after- 
ward said, "that that would be my mother's last night on 
earth, how reluctantly would I have left her side." A 
friend, writing of this sad event, says: " Oh, if you could 
have witnessed that orphan's grief, while weeping over 
her remains! He would continually say, ' Father is gone, 
mother is gone, and there is no one left; I have no one 
now.' ' ; But He to whose care he had been committed 
by a father's dying prayer and a mother's latest breath 
— the God of the fatherless — was near him in this hour 
of grief, although he knew it not. At the early age of 
eight years, he is alone in the world. In speaking of 
this early breaking up of his home, he says: "I saw one 
article after another sold, until nothing remained of the 
old home. And I stood — a little child — in the great, 
unfriendly world, alone." But the memory of that Chris- 
tian home, and the influence of the holy life which had 
brightened it, were indelibly impressed upon his heart, 
and were destined at last to lead his thoughts to God. 
Ah ! w T ho may be able to tell the power of home memo- 
ries and home influence over our hearts, when years and 
change have wrought their work, and the world holds 
no more for us such place of refuge. For the first two 
years after the death of his mother, George w T as taken 
to live with an aunt, Mrs. Amanda Sarbaugh. While 
here, it is related of him that once while on the street, 
forgetting, for the moment, the sad change in his life, 
he turned to go to the old home. He ran down the 
familiar street and into the house, when suddenly the 
truth flashed upon him that this was home no longer; 
and as he w T alked slowly aw T ay, his young heart even 
then began to realize that change and death are accom- 



LIFE UNTIL CONVERSION. 13 

panying shadows ail along life's pathway. But not then 
could he grasp the truth that hereafter we may have a 
permanency which we seek in vain here; that hereafter 
we may have a home, " a house not made with hands, 
eternal in the heavens." 

At an early age, before the death of his mother, in 
fact as soon as he was old enough to run about and en- 
gage in childish sports, he would preach sermons, and 
hold prayer meetings among his playmates, he being the 
leader, and he would insist upon every one taking part. 
His mother watched, with all a mother's interest, this 
tendency of mind, and used to fondly call him, "Mother's 
little preacher." 

In the year 1871, being then eleven years of age, he 
was placed in the Baltimore Manual Labor School, lo- 
cated a short distance from the city, for the purpose of 
learning a trade. He remained here but a short time, 
but during this period, by his amiable disposition, he 
won the confidence and afiection of all connected with 
the institution. 

In 1872, his brother, having married, took him to live 
with him. Being an apprentice in a printing-office, he 
secured a position for George in the same office. 

Thus early thrown upon his own resources, his facili- 
ties for obtaining an education were very limited. He 
was naturally quick and intelligent, and had a great de- 
sire for knowledge. This desire, to the extent of taking a 
course in any institution of learning, was never gratified. 
But he was a student, nevertheless, and made good use 
of what time was at his disposal.. He has become a 
great reader, and now has a library of choice books, and 
spends much of his time which can be spared from labor 



14 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

in his study. He often remarks, "I feel more at home 
among my books than anywhere else." 

In the printing-office he was a general favorite; but 
the influence thrown around him had a tendency to lead 
him into evil. His Sabbaths were spent with wicked 
associates, at the theater or roaming the streets of the 
wicked city. He had a great desire for the stage, and 
began to prepare himself for it. But God had a work 
for him, and his own plans were not to be consummated. 
He says: "When I was converted, I consecrated all my 
powers to the Lord, and what stage ability I had acquired 
went in with the rest." And God sanctified those powers 
to his own use, as may be seen by his subsequent history. 
For in proclaiming the word he draws large audiences, 
and holds them in close attention while he presents the 
word of life. 



CHAPTER II. 

CONVERSION AND COMMENCEMENT OF EVANGELISTIC WORK. 

His Conversion— Uniting with the Church — Distributing Traces — Acting 
as Sabbath-School Missionary — Leading the Children to the Sabbath- 
School — Power in Prayer — Position Still Retained in Printing-Office 
— Persecution — Persecution Changed to Respect — Call to Engage Ex- 
clusively in Revival Work — Removal to Laurel, Maryland — Assists 
in Revival Meetings — Daniel's Praying Band Organized — Advised by 
Friends to go out as an Evangelist — Goes to God in Prayer — Final 
Decision — Beginning of Evangelistic Work — Woodberry Revival. 

At the age of fourteen, while roaming the streets one 
Sabbath morning, Mr. Little passed near Scott Street 
United Brethren Church,, and, as it was the hour for 
morning service, he decided to go in. Here in years 
past he had often gone with his mother, and as he en- 
tered the door and looked upon the familiar place, the 
recollection of her prayers for him and of his own sin- 
fulness rushed over him with mighty power. Rev. B. G. 
Huber, editor of the Highway of Holiness, was the pastor, 
and as he preached the word, the arrow of conviction 
pierced his heart. Referring to this, the turning point 
in his life, he says: "I took my seat far back in the 
church, but the word of God, preached by his servant, 
found way to my heart; and I was not only convicted, but 
resolved then and there that I would give up my sins 
and seek God. I went to church that night, and Brother 
Huber gave the invitation to those who desired to seek 

15 



16 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

Christ to come forward to the altar. Oh ! how I wanted 
to go, but invisible chains seemed to bind me, and I 
could not rise from my seat. I went from the church 
feeling miserable. I tried to pray, but could not. I at- 
tended the meetings night after night until Thursday 
evening, when I determined that the adversary of my 
soul should hinder me no longer. I went to church and 
sat down at the front. The invitation was given, but 
again I felt unable to take one step. The tempter tried 
to make me believe that I could not keep religion, but, 
bless the Lord! it is the reverse; religion has kept me. 
He told me I was excited, that I could not enjoy myself 
if I became a child of God. But while God's minister 
spoke to me, I said, ' Satan, you shall not cheat me out 
of heaven and of meeting my father and mother there;' 
and in the name of Jesus I arose and went forward to 
the altar. I did not receive the blessing that night, but 
the next morning, on my way to work, I stopped upon the 
street and gave myself up to God, and then 'the peace 
that passeth all understanding' came into my soul, and 
I exclaimed, like one of old, ' Though Thou wast angry 
with me, thine anger is turned away.' I was saved from 
all my sins, and it seemed to me that I had just begun 
to live. When I arrived at the office, a friend said to me, 
< Were you not at the altar seeking religion last night?' 
I answered in the affirmative. With an oath he said, 
* Well, you are a fool.' This, however, did not discourage 
me, but I w T ent to God for help, and his grace was suffi- 
cient for me. I at once realized that there was work 
for me to do. \ united with the church, and entered the 
Sabbath-school as a w r orker. I resolved that I could 
and would do- anything which God required." 



CONVERSION. 17 

Of his conversion, his pastor, Rev. B. G. Huber, in a 
letter dated, May 5, 1886, writes as follows: 

"About the first of March, 1875, I took charge of the 
United Brethren congregation, worshiping in the Otter- 
bein Church, on the corner of Scott and St. Peter Streets^ 
Baltimore City, Maryland. I was a stranger in the city, 
and did not become acquainted with many persons out- 
side the membership of my congregation. During the 
winter a protracted revival meeting was held. One 
evening I noticed a strange boy sitting in a pew well to 
the front of the church. He had a hymn book in his 
hand. I did not know what thoughts occupied his mind 
at the time. I went to him, ascertained that he was 
not a Christian, and induced him to come to the altar. 
Though he was not converted that night, the next day, 
while on his way to work, he believed and was converted. 
He was received into the church, and was useful, for one 
of his years. 

" Knowing the success which has attended his labors, 
I have thought that if my one year's pastorate in Balti- 
more accomplished no more than the leading of George 
X. Little to the Savior, it was a good year's work. May 
the Lord bless him and his associate in life and labor, 
more and more." 

After his conversion he at once connected himself with 
the Maryland Tract Society, and for three years was one 
of their tract distributers. He also, upon his own re- 
sponsibility, acted as a Sunday-school missionary. He 
engaged in other branches of church work as oppor- 
tunity offered, obeying the Scripture injunction, "What- 
soever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might/ 
He went from house to house, distributing tracts, and 



18 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

looking for children who did not attend Sabbath-schooL 
When he found any such, he asked the privilege of call- 
ing for them on the following Sabbath and taking them 
to the school. Thus Sabbath after Sabbath he might be 
seen leading little children to the place w T here they would 
hear, perhaps for the first time, the story of Jesus. 

He now began to deliver short exhortations, and con- 
duct Saturday night meetings, in the basement of the 
church, and assisted much in the young people's meet- 
ings. Thus constantly active in Christian work, faithful 
in his attendance upon all the means of grace, and con- 
stant in prayer, he made rapid advancement in the Chris- 
tian life. He is said to have had wonderful power in 
prayer. He asked large things of God, and confidently 
expected to receive them. 

He was now engaged — all of his unemployed time — 
in religious work. He would often work all day at the 
printing-office, and after leaving his desk go directly to 
some appointment, without even taking time to eat his. 
supper. He seemed to possess a personal magnetism, 
which drew around him not only young Christians, but 
the old as well. While he still retained his position in the 
printing-office, he had for a time much to bear from the 
employes of the office. He was greatly persecuted on 
account of the course he pursued. But none of these 
things moved him. He had consecrated his life to God's 
service, and was willing to endure the taunts and sneers 
of his wicked associates. But in a short time, finding 
it impossible to dissuade him from his course, and seeing 
that his walk was consistent with his profession, they be- 
gan to respect him. He never feared to speak to them 
about their souls; and they soon had such respect for his 



CALL TO KEVIVAL WORK. 19 

piety that men who were habitually profane would not 
utter an oath in his presence. It was in the revival at 
Scott Street Church, Rev. W. J. Beamer, pastor, that Mr, 
Little received the Divine impression that, henceforth^ 
proclaiming the gospel must be his work. Hitherto he 
had entered heartily into all religious work, as the way 
opened before him, without a thought that God had a* 
wider field of usefulness for him to occupy. But the 
call came. And with a willing heart, and filled with the 
Spirit of his Master, he took his place among the hosts 
of God's called and chosen, whose great object is the 
rescue of perishing souls. "Now his heart's cry continu- 
ally was — 

"Lord, speak to me, that I may speak 
In living echoes of thy tone, 
As thou hast sought, so let me seek 
Thy erring children lost and lone. 

"Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach 
The precious things Thou dost impart; 
And wing my words, that they may reach 
The hidden depths of many a heart." 

Through the instrumentality of such workers, animated 
with such a spirit, the gospel shall finally triumph, and 
God shall be known among all nations, and "the whole 
earth be filled with his glory." 

In 1879 he went to work on a weekly newspaper at 
Laurel, Maryland, expecting to labor in revivals as God 
might open the way. Soon after his arrival he was 
visited by the pastor of the Methodist Church, Rev. 
W. H. Barnes, and invited to assist in a revival to be 
held at that church. Mr. Little accepted the invitation, 
and through their united labors many souls were led to 



20 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

Christ. At the close of this meeting he obtained per- 
mission of the pastor to organize the converts into a 
praying hand. The organization was effected, and was 
called, " Daniel's Praying Band." The care of the young 
converts is a part of church work which, we fear, does 
not receive proper attention. This band of workers con- 
tinued to hold meetings from house to house, and many 
more through their efforts Avere led to Christ. The fol- 
lowing is from one of the Laurel papers: 

"An interesting meeting was held at All Saints' 
Church, near Laurel, on Sunday afternoon last, con- 
ducted by George K. Little. Several requests for prayer 
were made. The church was crowded, a number from 
Laurel being present." 

"George K. Little, leader of the c Praying Band' of 
this town, conducted services on Sunday last at Asbury 
Methodist Episcopal Church, about three miles from this 
place. The service proved to be one of great interest; 
the church was crowded, and many were compelled to 
stand up. The band accompanied him, to the number 
of twenty-four." 

"While here he received many invitations from different 
denominations to hold meetings, and in these meetings 
his efforts were always blessed in the salvation of souls. 
As already stated, Mr. Little had recognized a Divine 
call to give himself entirely to revival work, and was 
willing to be used anywhere or in any way God might 
see fit to use him; yet had not thought of traveling as 
an evangelist, feeling illy capacitated for the work, and 
preferring to work in a quiet way at home. But his suc- 
cess led his friends to believe that God had a greater 
work for him to do, and they urged him to give up all 



COMMENCEMENT OF REGULAR EVANGELISTIC WORK. 21 

other work and enter this Held. He immediately laid 
the matter before the Lord; and as he prayed, and the 
vision of unsaved souls rose up before him, the call to 
go out everywhere and labor for them again sounded 
through the depths of his soul, and he arose with the 
decision made to cut loose from everything else and 
make this his life work. 

He now began to consider the calls that had come to 
him, and accepted the one from Rev. J. C. Crider, pastor 
of the United Brethren church at Woodberry, Maryland. 
From this we date the beginning of his regular evangel- 
istic work. He arrived at Woodberry, September 19, 
1880, and held the first service Saturday evening. From 
the first the house was crowded, and hundreds went 
,away without being able to gain admittance. Curiosity 
to see the Avonderful boy preacher, whose fame had pre- 
ceded him, drew the crowds at first, and once there the 
interest w r as so great that they found themselves going 
again and again. The Woodberry News has the follow- 
ing account of the revival : 

'•'Rev. J. C. Crider, pastor of the United Brethren 
church here, having heard of Mr. Little's success, called 
him to Woodberry, September 19th, ultimo. There has 
been great interest manifested during the entire succes- 
sion of services which he has conducted, but especially 
on the second Sunday evening, when the meeting w T as 
described as such as had never been seen or heard of in 
the history of Woodberry. The church is not half large 
enough to accommodate the increasing congregation. 
This meeting was closed on the night of the 14th of No- 
vember. There were a goodly number of penitents at 
the altar and four conversions on said evening, but owing 



22 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

to the continued tax upon the church through their in- 
cessant labors for eight fruitful weeks, the pastor thought 
best to give the people some rest. The penitents will be 
faithfully labored with in the prayer, class, and Sunday 
night services, inasmuch as these meetings are proving 
veritable revivals themselves. 

"More than eighty souls were converted during th9 
meeting, and seventy-two were added to the church. 

" The last night the crowd was exceedingly great. The 
morning service was largely attended, and also the house 
was crowded in the afternoon. The blessed Master 
stands among his people now, accepted, trusted, and 
adored. His praises are on many a lip, and his love in 
many a heart, where never before he had a name or 
dwelling place. May he bless the church yet more 
abundantly. 

"Mr. Little is slight in figure and youthful in appear- 
ance; but there is an earnestness in his manner, and a 
power in his utterances, which attract his audience from 
the first, and constrain them to give attention to the 
truths which he utters." 



CHAPTER III. 

REVIVALS AT YORK AND CHAMBERSBURG. 

Goes to York — The Pastor's Report — Extract from a Letter written by the 
Evangelist — Labors Closed with a Watch-Night Service — Arrival at 
Chambersburg — The Church Aroused — Remarks of J. Hoke. 

Mr. Little now went to York, Pennsylvania, and con- 
ducted revival meetings of great interest, in which many 
souls were saved. Hev. J. C. Smith, pastor of the Sec- 
ond United Brethren Church, in a letter published in 
The Revivalist, says: 

"During several years there has been a low state of 
religion here, which has given me much unrest of mind. 
Although I tried to preach the gospel in its purity, and 
tried to arouse the unconverted to a sense of their danger, 
I could see no indications of a revival influence. During 
the past year I have made this a subject of special prayer. 
"While thus engaged, our worthy elder, Rev. C. T. Stearn, 
■directed my attention to Mr. Little as a successful evan- 
gelist. I at once opened a correspondence with him, 
believing that through his efforts God would answer my 
prayers. 

"He came to us on the 16th of November, and began 
his labors on the same evening; since which time there 
have been conversions at nearly every meeting held, while 
many have been converted at their homes." 

92 



24 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

From a letter written by Mr. Little to his brother, we 
quote the following: 

"On my lirst evening here I took my stand in the 
pulpit in a very tired and worn-down condition; but 
realizing that all my help must come from the Lord, I 
went forward in the name of Jesus, and, bless the Lord! 
trembling: ones came forward to the altar to seek the 
pardon of their sins. Very many have since been saved,, 
and many believers strengthened.'' 

He closed his labors with a watch-night service. Just, 
before midnight many of the young converts kneeled 
with him around the altar and engaged in silent prayer; 
then, in the solemn stillness which prevailed, he offered 
a very earnest and impressive prayer in behalf of the 
converts, praying that God would deliver them from the 
power of the evil one, and in every temptation provide 
a way of escape. At the close the converts and others, 
gathered around him, and with a warm grasp of the 
hand and a fervent " God bless you," he bade them fare- 
well. Many accompanied him to the depot, where he 
took the train for Chambersburg, at which place he had 
been engaged to hold a series of meetings. 

CHAMBERSBURG. 

Rev. S. A. Mowers was at that time the pastor of the 
United Brethren church at this place. He greeted Mr. 
Little as a co-worker with him in his labors for the sal- 
vation of souls, and immediately began to plan for the 
work. On Sabbath morning the work properly began. 
Mr. Little preached, taking for his text, "The harvest 
truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few." During 
this service many Christians wore moved to tears. In 



CHAMBERSBURG. 25 

the evening, after the usual opening exercises of singing 
and prayer, conducted by Mr. Little, different persons 
were called upon to state their feelings with regard to 
the revival. He took this method of ascertaining the 
faith of the church, feeling that a revival depended as 
much upon the faith and labors of the church as upon 
the efforts of the ministry. After a number had spoken, 
he delivered a very stirring exhortation to the church, 
and then to the unsaved. He had now gained the at- 
tention and respect of the people, and even when the 
weather was inclement, crowds of people came to hear 
this boy, who was not yet twenty years of age, proclaim 
the gospel. As the meeting progressed, the interest in- 
creased, and soon penitents came to the altar, and others 
rose requesting the prayers of the church. As many as 
thirty w T ere at the altar at one time, and many were hap- 
pily converted. The church was fully aroused to its re- 
sponsibility, and inquired, " Lord, what wilt thou have 
me to do?" They were willing to be used in any way, 
just as the Lord might see tit to use them, whether it 
was to sing, pray, instruct inquirers, or go out in the 
congregation, or from house to house, and invite sinners 
to come to God. Such was the interest of the people,, 
and such their desire to be present at all of the meetings, 
that at least an hour before the time appointed for the 
services, crowds would already be there. They came from 
all directions, some a distance of from live to ten miles. 
Mr. J. Hoke says: "The dear old church at Cham- 
bersburg has often been filled and packed with persons 
desirous to be present at its services, during the many 
years of its history; but never for weeks together, night 
after night, during an exceedingly cold season and often 



26 G. K. LITTLE AND 1116 REVIVAL WORK. 

much snow, did the people so completely fill every avail- 
able space in the body of the church, the altar, the aisles, 
the vestibule, the gallery, and even the pulpit, until 
sometimes nearly as many persons went away, unable to 
obtain an entrance, as were inside. One of the most in- 
teresting, as well as the most largely attended of all the 
meetings, was the testimony meeting on Sabbath after- 
noons. While Mr. Little was very fluent and convincing 
;at exhortation, he seemed to excel in conducting a speak- 
ing meeting, and as a result these meetings were very 
spirited and profitable." 

As a result of this meeting about seventy-five persons 
were converted, nearly all of whom united with the 
•church. He always urges upon the converts the duty 
of connecting themselves with some church. The good 
accomplished in this revival was permanent; most of 
those converted still remain monuments of God's re- 
deeming love. 

In speaking of Mr. Little and his work at Chambers- 
burg, Mr. Hoke says: 

"As a preacher, Brother Little does not excel; his 
strength lies in exhortation, in the power to induce the 
people to decide, to move, to take the first step heaven- 
ward. In this I have never seen his equal. May the 
professed servants of the Master, who are laboring 
in his vineyard, be powerfully baptized, as is Brother 
Little, with the Spirit of the living God. One of the 
most memorable meetings which occurred during these 
never to be forgotten four weeks, was the last evening 
Brother Little was with us. An experience meeting 
had been* held in the afternoon, at which the church 
was literally packed with people. Many of these re- 



CHAMBERSBURG. 27 

mained until the evening meeting, fearing to 2:0 home 
for supper lest upon returning they could not obtain en- 
trance. The writer went to the church early, in good 
time as he thought, to get at least standing room, which 
was often the best he could get. He found, when within 
a square of the church, people returning from the church 
to their homes, or going to other churches, unable to 
obtain entrance. The pavement in front of the steps* 
the vestibule, the aisles, all were packed so that he could 
not get inside. When the preachers arrived, space for 
their entrance was made, and he forced his way in with 
them. At the conclusion of the meeting, the rush to 
take Brother Little by the hand, by all classes, sinners 
as well as saints, was such that he had to take his stand 
upon a bench at the door, and the people as they went 
out of the church shook his hand, while many, nearly 
all, were in tears. May God give the church many more 
men filled with the spirit of Brother Little." 

From the first Mr. Little had realized the magnitude 
and importance of the work he had undertaken, and his 
own weakness and inability to do any good. And on 
coming to this place, feeling more deeply than ever his in- 
competency, he — alone in his room — wrestled with God 
in prayer for a baptism of the Holy Spirit to enable him 
to work successfully for him. God heard, and graciously 
answered his prayers by pouring out his Spirit upon him. 
He realized then and there that the Holy Spirit was with 
him and would accompany him in all his work. 

That the Holy Spirit has accompanied him with power, 
those who have seen the great results of his labors can 
not doubt. May God give all Christians such a baptism 
for service. 



CHAPTER IV. 

REVIVALS AT HARRISBURG AND NEW CUMBERLAND. 

Harrisburg — Crowded House — Requests for Prayer — Experience Meet- 
ings — Children's Meetings — New Church — Call to New Cumberland 
— Much Fatigued — Rest at Baltimore — Goes to New Cumberland — 
Correspondent's Report — Result of Meeting. 

After holding a successful revival at Liverpool, Mr. 
Little went to Harrisburg in answer to a call from the 
pastor of the church at that place. The meeting began 
on Sabbath morning, Mr. Little preaching, and taking 
for his text, "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy 
people may rejoice in thee?" There was manifested a 
deep feeling during the preaching of this sermon. In 
the evening the house was very much crowded. Prepa- 
rations for a large audience had been made by taking 
out the pulpit and using chairs and benches to till up all 
available space. After preaching, the invitation was 
given to any who might wish to seek Christ. Two 
came forward to the altar. The second evening the 
house was again crowded. Mr. Little preached with 
great power from the text, "What must I do to be 
saved?" Four presented themselves for the prayers of 
the church, two of whom were hopefully converted. It 
was now evident that the Spirit was at work upon the 

28 






HARRISBURG. 29 

hearts of the people. The interest steadily increased, 
and every meeting witnessed conversions. 

The following account is taken from The Revivalist 
and Holiness Journal. The correspondent says: 

" Each night, with a few exceptions on account of in- 
clement weather, the church has been crowded, and 
many persons were turned away, unable to gain admit- 
tance, and the number of penitents has increased to 
twenty or thirty. Up to this time sixty-four conversions 
have taken place, forty-one of whom have united with 
the church. Requests for prayers are still coming in, 
both from individuals themselves and from Christians for 
their friends, and we believe it is just a drop before the 
mighty shower. Our prayer is, that God may continue 
his blessings until the time when we are compelled to 
pull down our present house of worship to make room 
for a larger and better church, which will be in three or 
four weeks, or as soon as the ground is ready.. The 
meetings have been extraordinary, both in profit and 
interest, to the unconverted as well as the converted, 
especially the old fashioned experience meetings held 
each Sabbath afternoon." 

The Independent, published in the city, says of one of 
these meetings: 

" The old-fashioned experience meeting at 3:00 p. M. was 
the event of the day. We can not express the joy, com- 
fort, and peace that was felt by the Christians, as one by 
one would tell of the love of Jesus, nor the deep sorrow 
and sympathy created by the brethren and sisters laying 
before each other the burden of their hearts; and many 
unconverted persons were moved to tears when a son 
would speak of the probability of parting with parents, 



30 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

or a brother with a sister, or a husband with his wife, 
on that great day — the Judgment, and many resolved 
there to 'turn to the Lord, and seek salvation.' " 

The children's meetings were also an important feature 
of these meetings, over three hundred attending. In 
this revival not only were believers strengthened, and 
sinners brought to Christ, but as a result of this meeting 
the old church was replaced by a very fine and commo- 
dious new one. And eternity alone will reveal all the 
good accomplished during these weeks of labor at Boas 
Street Church. 

NEAV CUMBERLAND, PENNSYLVANIA. 

.New Cumberland is a small town, two miles south of 
Harrisburg. Rev. D. W. Proffit was pastor of Trinity 
United Brethren Church at that place, and, hearing of 
his great success at Harrisburg, sent an urgent request 
to Mr. Little to come and help him in a meeting to be 
held there. Mr. Little, after the Harrisburg revival, was 
very much fatigued, and, fearing his health might fail, 
he went to Baltimore for a week's rest; but on his ar- 
rival, feeling better, lie immediately dispatched to Xew 
Cumberland that he would be with them in a few days. 
So with little or no rest he started for a new rield of labor. 
A correspondent of one of the Harrisburg papers gives 
the following account of this revival: 

"A frail, delicate boy in appearance, he passed to the 
pulpit five weeks ago. 'Faith,' said he, 'is a wonderful 
thing, and though you don't believe it now, you will see 
this house filled and this altar crowded with penitents. 
// will be. 1 And it was. 

"There is no transporting eloquence, no striking rhe- 



NEW CUMBERLAND. 31 

torical phrases, but plain, simple gospel truth in his ser- 
mons, such as we hear anywhere in God's sanctuary;, 
but it falls like a two-edged sword, and the third night 
the work began, and has been going on ever since, and 
its fruits will be known throughout eternity. The little 
prophet is tilled with the Spirit, and goes forth crying, 
'Come to Jesus now.' 

" Night after night the house was tilled with an intelli- 
gent audience. Far out into the country the influence was. 
felt, and many came to see and hear. The entire com- 
munity here were interested; children gathered around 
him and said, 'We want to serve Jesus.' He held 
special meetings for them, and the baptism of the Spirit 
was upon them. The old-fashioned experience meetings, 
held frequently, were full of reviving power, and none 
could doubt that the Spirit of the Lord was there. 
On Sabbath, April 19th, a bread-breaking service was 
held. This proved a feast to the 'souls of hundreds. 
Soon he will preach his farewell sermon to this people;. 
and many, many friends will bid him farewell with sad 
hearts, for here, as everywhere he goes, he has many- 
friends." 

This meeting continued for five weeks, during which 
time sixty souls were led to Christ. 



CHAPTER V. 

REVIVALS AT BALTIMORE, MD., AND LIMA AND ELIDA, OHIO. 

.Revival at Williams Street Independent Methodist Church — House Crowd- 
ed with People — Scores Ask for the Prayers of the Church — Penitents 
Cry Aloud for Mercy — Revival Influence Extends to Other Churches 

— Report by Correspondent — Without Invitation Sinners Come For- 
ward to the Altar — Many Requests for Prayer — Deep Conviction — 
Children Saved — More than Six Hundred Converted — Tribute to the 
Boy Preacher — Meeting- at Lima — Report by Pastor — Elida Meeting- 

— No Faith as to a Revival — Prayer at Family Altar — Faith Increased 

— Letter, and Report by Pastor. 

Iii the fall and winter of 1881 and 1882, Mr. Little 
went, by request of the pastor, to labor in Williams 
Street Independent Methodist Church, Baltimore, Mary- 
land. Some of the members of this church doubted the 
propriety of securing the services of one so young; but 
soon after his arrival it was demonstrated that he was 
a power in the hands of God in leading sinners to Christ, 
and all fears as to his ability to conduct the meeting were 
dispelled. The meeting had been in progress but a few 
days when the church, which has a seating capacity of 
about one thousand, was filled to its utmost capacity, 
and hundreds were compelled to go away unable to gain 
admittance. 

The power of God was manifested from the very first, 
and when the opportunity was given for all those who 
desired the prayers of the church to raise their hands, 

32 



BALTIMORE. 33 

scores of hands were uplifted all over the house. The 
cry now went up from many a heart,"God be merciful to 
me a sinner." The victory thus gained at the very com- 
mencement of the meeting was the occasion of much 
rejoicing to the church. The altar services were of the 
old-fashioned kind, and not only did penitents kneel, 
but their convictions were so powerful that many of 
them cried aloud for mercy. A faithful band of earnest 
Christians gathered around the altar, ready to instruct 
them and point them to Christ. 

Mr. Little was in no way partial; he worked as faith- 
fully for the poor and degraded as for the wealthy and 
refined; to him all were alike the possessors of immortal 
souls, equally exposed to eternal death, and equally need- 
ing salvation through the blood of Christ. 

In this meeting, as in all others, he seemed to possess 
the spirit of humility, and would often say, "I have 
nothing to do with the success of the meeting; it is God's 
work." And when parents came to him and expressed 
their thanks because a child had been converted, he 
would say, " Do not thank me, but give thanks to God." 

Although this revival had its commencement at Wil- 
liams Street Church, yet it soon extended to other parts 
of the city, and in many churches, revivals were held 
and many souls were led to Christ. A writer, in speak- 
ing of the revival, says: 

"The work had now fairly commenced, the church 
was infused with new life, the membership was now 
fully consecrated to God, all of one mind and heart — no 
jealousies, no divisions, but the great burden for sinners 
lay near each heart. At one of the class meetings it 
seemed as if the whole congregation had caught the 



34 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

heavenly tire, and many would not keep their seats. 
Many who came from mere curiosity went home with 
their curiosity satisfied by the blood of Christ being ap- 
plied to their hearts. At one of the meetings there was 
a man who came with ball tickets in his pocket to lure 
the young converts away from the church and from 
God ; but the power of the Holy Ghost reached him, and 
he was made to cry for mercy, and in a short time was 
rejoicing in a Savior's love. Conversions now occurred 
at places of business, and some were converted on the 
streets. Persons convicted of sin would come to the 
parsonage as late as ten o'clock at night to be prayed for, 
and others would come in the morning. People from 
all parts of the city now began to flock to the church, 
and many from neighboring towns came to the meetings 
and sought and found the Savior. These conversions 
were from all classes; the cultured and refined, the igno- 
rant and degraded, the drunkard and the poor and desti- 
tute, were all brought to a savins: knowledge of Christ." 

Mr. Little's constant theme was, "Christ and him cruci- 
fied;" and at times while pleading with sinners to accept 
his offers of pardon, before an invitation was given, pen- 
itents would come forward to the altar, and in a short 
time the altar and the front pews would be crowded 
with anxious souls, and in different parts of the house 
others would be calling upon God for mercy. 

Many requests for prayer were now sent, coming, 
some of them, from persons far from the city. People 
who had not attended a church for twenty years, came 
to these meetings and were soundly converted. A cor- 
respondent says: 

"As the revival progressed, the interest increased and 



BALTIMORE. 35 

the power of God was more and more manifest. Men 
would come to the altar and fall down as if they were 
dead, so powerful were their convictions. Some who 
for years had been continually under the influence of 
rum, were converted. Old men, who had passed through 
life without conversion, sought and found the Lord. 
Many remain faithful, others have crossed the swelling 
tide in the hope of immortality and eternal life." 

In this meeting many children were converted; these 
were afterward formed into a class and led by the pas- 
tor's wife. These meetings continued day and night for 
fifteen weeks. During these weeks of labor for the 
Master, more than six hundred souls were converted to 
God. 

To show the esteem in which Mr. Little was held by 
the people, we insert the following, taken from the Horn- 
ing Herald, January 28, 1882, published at Baltimore: 

"a tribute to the boy preacher. 

" A reception in the form of an English tea party was 
tendered the Rev. George K. Little, known as Balti- 
more's 'Boy Preacher,' at the Cross Street Institute last 
night. The hall was neatly decorated, and an arch, 
trimmed with flowers and evergreens, bearing the in- 
scription, 'God bless the boy preacher,' was especially 
noticeable. The bill of fare embraced sandwiches of all 
kinds, fruit, pound, sponge, and other cakes, and coffee 
and tea. There was a very full attendance of Mr. Little's 
friends. After all present had been served with supper, 
there were musical exercises, and at their conclusion 
Mr. Little was surprised by the presentation to him by 
the pastor, from some friends, of a purse containing one 



36 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

hundred dollars. Other presents were a large bouquet 
of wax flowers, a gold pencil and case, and a gentleman's 
fancy case. Mrs. Elizabeth Lowe, wife of the pastor of 
"Williams Street Independent Methodist Church, was the 
originator of the tea party, and she was cordially assisted 
by all the ladies of the congregation." 



Mr. Little now went to Lima, Ohio, and assisted in a 
revival being held in the United Brethren church by the 
pastor, Rev. W. E. Bay, who, at the beginning of his 
labors, wrote to the Religious Telescope as follows: 

" I commenced a meeting at this place, February 12th, 
and continued it about four weeks, during which time 
there were over fifty conversions and forty-three acces- 
sions to the church. We then telegraphed to G. K. 
Little, the boy evangelist of York, Pennsylvania, to 
come and hold a meeting in Lima. He accepted the in- 
vitation, and arrived here, March 17th, and commenced 
his meetings on the 19th. He is little in stature, only 
five feet two inches in height, weighs one hundred and 
sixteen pounds, and is twenty-one years old. lie has an 
open countenance, smooth face, and eyes bright, clear, 
and serene; hair of a light brown color, and a large 
mouth. He seems to be a good man, full of the Holy 
Ghost and of faith. He is very active, and is terribly in 
earnest. He goes from his room (where he spends much 
of his time on his knees) to the pulpit, and there pleads 
with sinners in such a way that every person around 
him feels strangely pressed to the cross of the Lord Jesus 
Christ. We are praying and expecting such a tornado 
of God's power to be manifested in the conviction and 



ELIDA, OHIO. 37 

conversion of souls as will shake Lima from center to cir- 
cumference. This last meeting has been in progress only 
two days; but it grows in interest with every service." 

This meeting continued about two weeks, and resulted 
in the conversion of more than one hundred souls. 



Rev. P. B. Williams, pastor of the United Brethren 
church at Elida, had long been praying for a revival, 
and knowing something of Mr. Little's success in revival 
work, he wrote to him requesting his help in holding a 
series of meetings at this place. 

He came and began work in earnest. He seemed to 
have faith that the effort would be successful, but the 
work moved very slowly. The pastor, in a letter refer- 
ring to this, says: 

" Brother Little, I think, Was the only person who en- 
tertained a spark of faith. We went home to the par- 
sonage, after a dark service; we got down before God 
at the family altar, and such a prayer to God I never 
listened to before or since. He prayed for thirty min- 
utes, and when we arose, it was with altogether changed 
feelings to those we had when we went to prayer. After 
that night's praying we were all just as confident of 
success as if we had it. The revival began in earnest the 
next night, and in a very short time we had near seventy- 
five conversions and accessions to the church. With 
anything like a fair chance, he is the best evangelist I 
have ever met." 

During the progress of the revival, Brother Williams 
wrote to the Religious Telescope, Dayton, Ohio, giving an 
account of the work at Elida. He says: 



38 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

" I have studied Brother Little and his work in holding 
meetings. I think his success lies in bringing the gospel 
back to its primitive force. I think the great curse of 
the times is in trying to adapt the gospel to the age; the 
result is, it is crippled. He stands and speaks to the 
people in thunder tones, which remind one very much 
of Paul on Mars Hill, or Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. 
His expressions are simple, plain, pointed, and practical. 
I think any one who sees and hears him in his work will 
confess that it is a success. 

"He came to us 'full of faith and of the Holy Ghost/ 
The first signal victory w r as manifested when the church 
was invited to the altar for special consecration. The 
power of God came down in a powerful manner. Some 
shouted, some w T ept, others laughed, while it was evident 
that a deep conviction was settling down on the people. 
In a few nights penitents began flocking to the altar in 
surprising numbers. The slain of the Lord were many. 
For two w^eeks not a night passed but that from three 
to eighteen w r ere at the altar crying for mercy. We 
never witnessed greater displays of convicting, yielding, 
and converting power than here. 

" The church was not only blessed with an additional 
membership, but a large number of lukewarm members 
were revived, until husbands were made to thank God 
for their wives, and w 7 ives for their husbands, being filled 
with the fullness of God. The convictions seem so 
pungent, and the conversions so clear, as to convince 
any one that it was no superficial work. 

"On Wednesday, the 14th, we had an all day service, 
which was a success. At 9:30 a. m., prayer, praise, and 
promise meeting; at 10:30, Bible reading by the 'evangel- 



ELIDA, OHIO. 39 

ist; after this, an old-time experience meeting. At 2:00 
p.m., preaching by one of our young ministers; at 3:00 
p. M., an old-fashioned bread-breaking service, which 
brought down the power in a great measure. All felt 
'it is good to be here.' At 4:00 p. M., children's meet- 
ing, and at 6:30 p. m., regular revival services. Thus 
ended a day long to be remembered in Elida. 

"Mr. Little wilL hold his farewell service here on Sun- 
day. He goes from here to Wisconsin to hold revival 
services. Let the Church pray for his success." 



CHAPTER VI. 

REVIVALS AT BETHEL AND SPRING GROVE, WISCONSIN. 

Goes to Wisconsin — Gains the Confidence of the People — Faith of the 
Church Strengthened — Predicts a Gracious Revival — Consecration 
Service — Discouragements — Exhorts the Church to Pray — Great Vic- 
ton- — Report of Pastor — Spring Grove — Reported by the Pastor — 
Element of Division in the Church — Exhortation to the Church — 
Harmony Again Prevailing — All Denominations Assist in the Work 
— Result of Revival. 

At the close of the revival at Elida, Mr. Little went 
directly to Wisconsin to assist Rev. D. R. Grover in re- 
vival work. Arriving at Bethel, he remained two days 
with the pastor before commencing his meetings, and 
by his conversation and by his earnest appeals at the 
family altar the impression was made upon the minds 
of the minister and his family that he was a man of 
God, and full of the Holy Ghost. He also gained the 
confidence of all whom he met. On Sabbath, February 
25th, he began a series of meetings at Bethel, which 
were to increase in power until the entire community 
would be stirred, and religion become the absorbing 
topic of conversation in all places and among all classes. 
The church at Bethel had met with many discourage- 
ments, and seemed to have lost to a great extent its. 
spiritual life and power; yet there were a few who were 
still faithfully working and earnestly praying for a re- 

40 



BETHEL, WISCONSIN. 41 

vival. And their prayers are now about to be answered; 
for the set time to favor Zion is come. Before the close 
of the first service, the church began to have faith that 
God was about to visit them in mercy. One man, speak- 
ing to the pastor, said, " I knew, before he had finished 
his first prayer, that we would have a glorious revival." 
Rev. D. R. Grover, pastor, reporting the revival, says: 
"As the evangelist related how gloriously God had 
revived the people in other days, one brother said, ' I just 
want to live to see one such meeting as that.' 'Well,' 
was the reply, 'you will only have to live five days more 
to see it.' This prophecy was fulfilled; as, on the fifth 
night of the meeting, this man was made to shout, on 
seeing his daughter, with several other young people,, 
happily converted to God. This ability to foretell what 
God is going to do for the people, is a very prominent 
feature in the attainments of the evangelist. He seems, 
to catch by inspiration just what will be accomplished 
at each place, after the first one or two meetings. At 
Bethel he told the people the first night that God was 
going to do a great work for them. He exhorted them 
to get ready for the work, and to this end invited the 
entire church out to the altar to reconsecrate all their 
powers to the Lord in this special work. This proved 
to be 'a time long to be remembered;' the Lord met his. 
people at the altar and showered upon them his richest 
blessings, until many were made to rejoice, which they 
manifested by weeping, laughing, and shouting, all prais- 
ing God in the highest for his matchless love. 

"On the fourth night of the meetings a cloud came 
over the minds of the people, and everything seemed 
dark and discouraging; no one came to the altar that 



42 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

night. At the close of the service Mr. Little told the 
people that the Devil was making his last struggle that 
night. He said: ' If you will all be faithful, and pray 
much between this and to-morrow evening, this altar 
will be full of penitents.' This prophecy, like many 
others, was literally fulfilled, as on the following evening 
eighteen souls were led to the altar, seeking mercy of 
God; and for two weeks we had from ten to twenty 
coming to Jesus every night. 

"One man who was a great sinner had not attended 
church for five years, although he resided only a few 
rods from the church door. lie had buried his father a 
week before, and the father had urged him upon his 
dying bed to meet him in heaven. He also had an 
earnest Christian wife, who had been praying for his sal- 
vation for many years. Soon after the meeting com- 
menced, he was so powerfully convicted of sin that he 
could find no rest, until one evening he bowed with his 
devoted wife at the family altar, and called on the Lord 
for mercy; God accepted the sacrifice, and the next day 
that man arose in the church and said, 'My brethren 
and friends, I have been greatly benefited by these meet- 
ings; the Lord forgave my sins last night at the family 
altar, in answer to many prayers.' After this he became 
a very earnest worker in the meetings, and was instru- 
mental in leading many souls to Christ. 

"The good news spread rapidly, and people came for 
miles around to see and hear this wonderful man of 
God. One evening a young lady arose in the church and 
said, 'I reside ten miles from here, and have attended 
but one meeting here before this; but then I received 
convictions which never left me until a few nights ago, 



BETHEL, WISCONSIN. 43 

at a prayer meeting at home, my sins were washed 
away in the blood of the Lamb. Glory to his name.' 

"The spiritual interests of the meeting became so 
great that after the benediction was pronounced, the 
people would often remain for three quarters of an hour, 
shouting, singing, and praying with their friends who 
were seeking religion. Sometimes after Mr. Little had 
left the church he would be called back to pray for some 
poor soul who felt that he could not leave the church 
until he had found peace with God. The people would 
often go to their homes for miles away, singing and 
praising God all the way, and then spend an hour in 
social worship at the family altar. The oldest members 
of the church were heard to declare, both publicly and 
privately, that such a religious awakening had never 
been witnessed in their midst before. 

"The evangelist is a young man, yet in many respects 
he is ' old-fashioned,' especially in his mode of conducting 
revivals. Take him away from the altar, or 'mourners' 
bench' as it is sometimes called, and he is lost. He be- 
lieves in 'thorough work;' and always persuades those 
who desire to seek religion, to come to the altar and 
there commit themselves to the Lord. 

"One lady arose for prayer, and the following evening 
desired to come to the altar; but her husband, who was 
an irreligious man, objected, saying that it was not a lit 
place for a woman to go. This was soon reported to the 
evangelist. He said, 'That is an insult to God's altar 
and his cause, and consequently to me — let us pray.' 
He then went down upon his knees and offered up one 
of the most heart-searching prayers the writer ever 
heard from human lips. I can never forget how he 



44 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

looked, as he arose, and with arms extending heaven- 
ward, holding the Bible in his right hand, he went down 
the aisle, and, bowing in front of the offender, pleaded 
with God for mercy in his behalf. One good old brother 
said, 'If I had been that man, I never could have left 
the church until I had asked all the people to pray for 
me. 5 The man who was prayed for so earnestly did not 
pass a very pleasant night, and early the next day he 
sought an interview with Mr. Little and promised to 
stand in the way of his family no more. The following 
evening the wife came to the altar and was happily con- 
verted and united with the church. Thus every hin- 
drance was prayed out of the way, and God's work 
moved on in the salvation of many precious souls. 

"Perhaps there are few men who can engraft them- 
selves into the love, sympathy, and good will of the people 
more readily than Mr. Little. Although his stay among 
this people was brief, yet, when the time came for our 
meetings to close, many warm and earnest Christian hearts 
clustered around this man of God, as they reluctantly 
thought of the 4 good-by' that must soon be spoken. 

" The meeting seemed to grow more interesting as it 
drew 7 to a close. One of the most powerful manifesta- 
tions of the power of the Holy Ghost the writer ever 
witnessed, was on the day before the farewell service was 
held. Mr. Little had previously announced that he 
would conduct that afternoon an ' old-fashioned bread- 
breaking service.' This was an entirely new feature to 
our Western people, and the announcement drew out a 
large congregation. As the bread was passed around, 
the utmost solemnity prevailed; but when the entire 
audience arose and joined in the singing of that grand 



BETHEL, WISCONSIN. 45 

old hymn, 'Alas, and did my Savior bleed?' at the same 
time passing around and breaking bread with one 
another and shaking hands, the Holy Spirit was poured 
out in a large measure upon every heart. Many wept, 
others shouted, and still others in silent bliss glorified 
the Lord Jesus Christ. 

" On Wednesday, March 14, 1883, the evangelist con- 
ducted his farewell meeting at the Bethel Church. By 
special request the converts were seated in a body, occu- 
pying the middle tier of pews immediately in front of 
the rostrum. The evangelist used as a subject, 'The 
books of Heaven.' The discourse was one long to be 
remembered by all who heard it. At the close of the 
sermon, the converts spoke of their experience; many 
of them telling by what means God had awakened them 
to a true sense of their condition out of Christ, and had 
brought them into his fold. The entire audience then 
arose, while Mr. Little offered an earnest and heart- 
searching prayer in their behalf, imploring Heaven's 
richest blessings upon all present, especially on those 
who had so lately started for heaven. A report was 
read, showing the result of the meetings to be about 
seventy-five conversions, and the membership of the 
church nearly doubled. 

"Thus closed one of the most interesting and success- 
ful series of meetings the church has ever been blessed 
with in this part of the land. But my account of this 
meeting 1 would be incomplete, were I to close it without 
mentioning the fact, that its services and benefits were 
not confined to any one people or denomination. Chris- 
tians out of the various churches all over the entire com- 
munity came in to the altar service and labored like 



46 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

earnest, devoted men and women for God, pointing their 
children and friends to the Savior." 

SPRING GROVE, WISCONSIN. 

At the close of the revival at Bethel, Mr. Little, being 
very much fatigued, found it necessary to rest for a few 
days. He remained at the homo of Rev. I). E. G rover 
from Thursday until Monday, and then began a meeting 
at Spring Grove. This meeting in reported by the pas- 
tor, Rev. D. R. Grover, as follows: 

" On Monday, March 19th, in company with the writer, 
Mr. Little visited Spring Grove Church for the first time. 
This is a union church, owned and oeeupied by the 
United Brethren and Lutheran people together, situated 
in the towm of Spring Grove, about twelve miles from 
Monroe, and one and a half miles from the State line. 
Around it lies a thickly settled and wealthy country. 

"Here w r e had a society of thirty-five or forty mem- 
bers; many of them- were earnest Christians, who were 
holding on to the promises of God under very discour- 
aging circumstances, praying and trusting that He would 
send them a revival. The fame of the evangelist had 
preceded him here, and the congregations w r ere large 
from the very first, all eager to see and hear this won- 
derful 'Little' man. And here, as elsewhere, he went 
to w^ork with a faith and zeal which knew no denial. 

"I might state here, that there was an element of di- 
vision in this society which was very much in the way 
of revival work; of this I said nothing to the evangelist, 
knowing his ability to adapt himself to the circumstances 
surrounding him, as well as to discover what they were. 
I left him to meet this element in his own way, or rather 
in the way God would lead him. 



SPRING GROVE, WISCONSIN. 47 

"On the second night of the meeting he invited the 
Christian people to the altar for re-consecration service. 
He said to them : ' I want yon to get ready for work to- 
night, for this must be a short series of meetings and I 
can't preach to the church any more. I must urge sinners 
to come to Christ.' But the wort was not yet sufficiently 
wrought in the hearts of the professors of religion for 
it to spread to the un regenerate in convincing and con- 
victing power; hence, when the invitation was given, no 
one came to the altar. This might not seem strange to 
most of us who are familiar with this line of work; but^ 
to a man whose faith went out after scores of souls, a 
man who had learned to ask God for whatever good thing 
he desired and to expect to receive it, a man who went 
down the aisles of the church and in a personal manner 
pressed the cup of salvation to the lips of the unsaved — 
to such a man it meant something. 

"It is Mr. Little's custom, when giving the invita- 
tion, to leave the rostrum and stand upon the front seat 
of the middle tier, in a position from which he can 
command an accurate view of the entire audience. 
Here, with hands extended heavenward, he will hold 
up and present to the world a crucified Savior, as one 
appeal after another falls from his lips, clothed in the 
power of G-od, earnestly inviting sinners to come to 
Jesus and live. After giving the invitation in this 
manner the second time, Mr. Little raised his eyes 
heavenward, as if to inquire of God why they did not 
i'orne; and then quickly stepping down off the seat on 
which he had been standing, and returning to the pul- 
pit, he walked to and fro a few minutes, looking at the 
professors of religion seated on either side of the ros- 



48 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

trum. He seemed to catch by inspiration just what the 
trouble was, and said, < My friends, there is something 
wrong here in this church. If you professors of religion 
stood where you ought to stand, this altar would be 
crowded with penitents by this time.' 

"Each one felt the force of these words, and as they 
were spoken in his plain, forcible, and yet eloquent man- 
ner, they fell with burning effect on all who heard them. 
He then gave the church one of the best exhortations 
the writer ever listened to; pointing out to them the 
necessity of getting out of the way of those w r ho desired 
to come to Christ, by getting a deeper work of grace in 
their own hearts, by surmounting every obstacle, and 
rising to a higher plane of Christian living. 

"A meeting was appointed for the next day at two 
o'clock, which proved to be just what was needed. After 
this there w T as no further trouble. Sinners came flocking 
to the altar, and requests for prayer began to come from 
every direction. All this is mentioned here, to show Mr. 
Little's ability to search out and remove everything which 
stands in the way of the work going forward. 

"At the second meeting held in the day-time at this 
place, God abundantly blessed the people; they were be- 
ginning to get revived and united in spirit, and many 
were made to rejoice. At the close of the meeting a 
man who had been under deep conviction from the very 
first, arose and cried out, 'I want every Christian in this 
house to pray for me; I feel I can not leave this place 
until I am saved — Oh God, have mercy on my soul!' 
Mr. Little was at his side in an instant, and as we all 
knelt with him before God, he pointed this soul to the 
cross, and after a few moments of earnest prayer and 



SPRING GROVE, WISCONSIN. 49 

agonizing with God, this man found peace and went 
away rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

"One night Mr. Little went to a young man in the 
audience and said, 'My friend, are you saved?' The 
young man replied, in a very indifferent and scornful 
manner, that he was. ' You are telling me a falsehood,' 
was the reply. ' Are you a Christian ? ' The earnestness 
and plain, simple manner of the evangelist soon took 
away the young man's courage, and he confessed that 
he was a great sinner. Mr. Little then bowed down be- 
side him, and prayed for him, asking God to have mercy 
on him for trifling with his own soul's eternal interest. 
This produced a powerful impression upon the entire 
audience, and when the prayer was ended there were 
tears in many eyes. Most of those converted in this 
meeting were middle-aged people, and some were already 
on the declining hill-side of life, although quite a num- 
her of young people were converted to God. 

" Like the Bethel meeting, this one reached all Chris- 
tians of every denomination, all feeling perfect liberty 
to work together for the salvation of souls. This meet- 
ing grew in interest rapidly from the first, and when it 
was announced that we would have to close on account 
of other engagements, all felt that the work had just 
commenced. The altar at this time was filled with peni- 
tents, and many more were under conviction. 

"The Monroe meeting was to commence the next 
week, and Mr. Little was well-worn down by constant 
labor, and felt that he must have a few days' rest. Ac- 
cordingly, Wednesday evening, March 28th, was an- 
nounced as the farewell night at Spring Grove. The 
evangelist preached one of the most heart-searching 



50 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

sermons on that evening to which I have ever listened, 
from the text, * The harvest is past, the summer is end- 
ed, and we are not saved.' As with power he pictured 
the condition of the soul which neglects the salvation 
offered through our Lord Jesus Christ, and as he spoke 
forth the words of truth and soberness in his eloquent 
manner, backed by the power of God, the large audi- 
ence was held spell-bound, and conviction sank deep 
into many hearts. 

"At the close of the discourse, Mr. Little asked all 
who wanted to be remembered in the last prayer, to- 
arise and bow their heads with him, and nearly all in 
the house stood upon their feet, while he, passing down 
either aisle, with arms extended, asked God's richest 
blessing upon all present. This prayer produced such 
an effect upon the audience that almost all were in 
tears. This was indeed a precious season of Divine 
grace, and many will ever look back to it as a bright 
spot in the history of their lives. 

"One very interesting and profitable feature of Mr. 
Little's work is, that he awakens in the heart of every 
professor of religion an earnest desire for higher life. 
Many whose names are on the church records find, up- 
on close examination of their own hearts, that they are 
living in the low valley of doubt and fear, instead of 
standing on the mountain-top of peace and joy in the 
Holy Ghost. In these meetings they are led out into 
broader fields and higher attainments in divine life. And 
I must say that, if there were not a sinner saved in the 
meetings, they are worth all they cost for the good they 
do to the church." 



CHAPTER VII. 

REVIVAL AT MONROE, WISCONSIN. 

Call to Monroe — Congregational Church Secured for the Meetings — Pas- 
tor's Report — Short History of the Various Churches There — Faith 
of the People with Regard to a Revival — Interest Manifested from 
the Start — Prayer of Evangelist that a Dramatic Company may At- 
tend Church — A Dance Postponed — Great Number of Conversions — 
A Society Organized — The Revival a Benefit to All Churches. 

The revival meetings conducted by Mr. Little at Bethel 
and Spring Grove had attracted a great deal of atten- 
tion at Monroe; and as soon as the people were satisfied 
that a good work had been done, they sent a call to Mr. 
Little to come and hold a series of meetings at that 
place. Mr. Little consented, and arrangements were 
then made with the board of trustees of the Congrega- 
tional church to hold the meetings in that church. Rev. 
D. E. Grover reports this meeting also; he says: 

"Monroe had no lack of churches, as there were some 
half dozen Protestant American .societies here, beside 
several German churches and a large Irish Catholic 
church. But, notwithstanding this fact, religious in- 
terest was at a low ebb, and spiritual life and vitality 
nearly extinct. The regular preaching service at each 
place where the service of the pastor was still retained, 
was attended by very few ; and the prayer meetings were 
kept up by a faithful half dozen at each place of worship. 

51 



52 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

One society had disbanded its organization, and at this 
time the Congregational society was without a pastor. 
Some said that no one could get the people of Monroe 
enough interested in meetings of this kind to secure an 
attendance. Others said nothing could be accomplished 
by a 'mere boy/ where so many noted men had tried 
and failed. The pastor of one of the churches said, ' If 
Mr. Little can do anything here, it is more than any 
other man has ever done;' to which the evangelist re- 
plied, 'You have tried man long enough; try God now 
and see what he will do.' 

"It was announced through the local papers, that a 
series of 'Union Gospel Meetings' would be held in the 
place, and, accordingly, on Wednesday evening, April 4, 
1883, Mr. Little made his first public appearance in 
Monroe. The church, with a seating capacity of nearly 
eight hundred, was well filled the first night, but on the 
second night the evangelist w T as greeted with a full house. 
The attendance increased rapidly, and the gallery was 
thrown open; standing room about the doors and in the 
vestibule was taken, and soon hundreds went away who 
could not gain admittance, so eager w^ere the people to 
see and hear this wonderful 'Boy Preacher,' in his plain, 
spiritual manner of setting forth the truths of the Bible. 
And it was evident not only that they would be 'hearers 
of the word,' but that many of them would soon be- 
come 'doers' of the will of God. Several clergymen of 
the place were in regular attendance, and with their 
prayers, exhortations, and sympathies did what they 
could to make the effort a success. 

"The 'Boy Preacher,' as he was now called by every 
one, soon became the center of attraction, and his meet- 



53 

ings the theme of conversation throughout the entire 
town and surrounding country; nor were these com- 
ments all favorable, but many and bitter were the de- 
nunciations of the evangelist and his work, by those 
who had no sympathy with God and his great plan of 
salvation. The first cry was, 'Too much excitement,' 
and when they found they could not make the people 
believe that, they said, ' He is insane.' To this the peo- 
ple replied, 'Well, if this man is insane, may God send 
us more insane preachers;' for they saw that, like Paul 
before Agrippa, he was not mad, but did ' speak forth 
the words of truth and soberness.' 

" Soon after the commencement of the meetings, the 
town was billed for a very popular dramatic company to 
perform a play which possessed special attractions for 
many of our people. It was thought by some that this 
would draw from the interest of the meeting; but Mr. 
Little made the same disposition of this which he does 
of all other matters of importance — just went to the 
Lord in prayer. He prayed that this company might 
not play on that night, but come to church and hear the 
word of God. When the company arrived in town, they 
found that their chance to draw an audience was very 
small; and, as their ' leading lady ' was not very well, the 
play was postponed, and nearly the whole troupe found 
their way to the church in direct answer to the prayers 
offered. The troupe remained in town and attempted 
to play two nights following, but failed each time to get 
a full house, and left in disgust, their expenses having 
been more than their receipts. 

" Invitations were sent out for a party at the house of 
a very popular family, and all the young people were 



54 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

invited; but only one young lady was there, and spent 
the evening in fretting about 'people getting crazy 
over these meetings;' even the man of the house was 
at the church. 

" On the second week of the meetings, one of the local 
papers gave a notice, which ran something like the fol- 
lowing: 'The club dance at Turner Hall, which was to 
have been the last of the season, has been postponed on 
account of the revival at the Congregational church.' 
Thus everything else stood still, while the work of God 
went forward. This, too, was as the evangelist had 
prayed that it might be. All this shows the depth of 
interest manifested in this work by both the church and 
the world. 

"The two o'clock meeting was a very interesting feat- 
ure in the services. The attendance was very large every 
afternoon, and often there would be several conversions 
during the meeting. One afternoon, as we went down 
the aisles, we found two ladies awaiting us, one a convert 
of the meeting, trying to bring a friend to Jesus. The 
friend, however, was not very serious, and when Mr. 
Little spoke of the necessity of a change of heart, she 
very carelessly answered, 'I don't believe I have any 
heart;' to which the evangelist replied, 'Now you are 
trilling with God, not with man, and that is a great sin. 
I am going to pray for you right here and now, whether 
you stay to hear it or not.' So down he went on his 
knees and offered a very earnest prayer in her behalf; 
and, arising to his feet, he gave her a few words of ad- 
vice and passed out, leaving the astonished lady gazing 
after him, trying to collect her scattered senses; and in 
a few days she arose for prayer. She afterward told, 



MONROE, WISCONSIN. 55 

that that prayer brought the first conviction of sin to 
her heart that she ever felt. 

"An attempt was made to keep an accurate account 
of all who made a start for heaven in this meeting; but, 
as the crowd increased, and large numbers were at the 
altar every night, and more arose for prayers, we soon 
lost all knowledge of numbers. 

"Mr. Little makes the subject of intemperance very 
prominent in his meetings. This did great good here, as 
the saloon interest is very prominent in Monroe, and many 
mothers, wives, and friends were rejoiced to hear his plain 
and forcible arguments against this great evil. In a short 
time saloon-keepers and drunkards were among the num- 
ber who requested prayer in their behalf. 

" Oh, w r hat grand and glorious days those were, when, 
•day after day, and night after night, so many people 
were assembled together, all in Christian sympathy, each 
one eager to do all in his power for the cause of the 
blessed Master, as they were led from victory to victory 
by a man filled * with the Holy G-host and with power/ 
until we all felt it would be good to ever engage in this 
blessed work. 

"But, like all else, these meetings must have an end, 
and it came much sooner than we had anticipated. It 
was evident to the friends of the evangelist that he was 
working much harder than his strength would admit of 
for any length of time; and many were the warnings he 
received that he could not stand such incessant toil, day 
and night, very much longer. At length he was told 
by his physician, that he must stop at once or he would 
be entirely prostrated. This w T as when the meetings 
were most interesting, and just after a new feature had 



56 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

been introduced — a children's meeting, which was largely 
attended, and promised to be the leading feature of the 
services. Mr. Little is a great friend to the children, 
and has a wonderful faculty of interesting and instruct- 
ing them, and at the same time winning their young 
hearts to the Savior, and causing them to love the meet- 
ings as well as the man who conducts them. 

"Arrangements had just been made to continue the 
meetings at least three weeks longer, when the doctor 
pronounced the evangelist unable to work any longer in 
them. This was a great disappointment to everybody; 
as it was evident that, could the work go on, the entire 
town would be taken for Christ. Many prayers were 
offered for the evangelist; and tears came to many eyes, 
when he told them that he must leave for his home in 
the East on the first train which would carry him. 

"It would be difficult for those who have never en- 
joyed the acquaintance of Mr. Little, to comprehend 
how a comparative stranger could, in so short a time, 
form so strong an attachment for a people, or win the 
hearts of the people so strongly to himself. Nor can 
we tell how it is; only that when the people see him, he 
is so humble and devoted, so young and innocent in his. 
appearance, his preaching is so plain and simple, yet so 
powerful, the conversions in his meetings are so bright, 
and the work so deep and thorough, that no one can 
doubt that the man is chosen of God for this very im- 
portant work. 

"The Monroe meeting closed on Wednesday evening, 
April 25th. On the next morning, Mr. Little took the 
east-bound train for York, Pennsylvania. A large num- 
ber of converts and other friends were assembled at the 



57 

depot to say 'good-by' to this man, who, under God, 
had been the instrument of their salvation. Tears were 
in many eyes that morning, as the train moved away 
from the station; and it was remarked again and again 
that no man ever left the town before, whose departure 
was regretted by so many people. 

"This meeting lasted just three weeks, and more than 
two hundred precious souls were born into the kingdom 
of God." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

REVIVALS AT RUTLAND AND CASCADE, WISCONSIN. 

Goes to Rutland — Penitents at the Altar at the Second Service — Church 
too Small to Accommodate the People — Mr. Little Sends for his Taber- 
nacle — Arrangements Made to Accommodate One Thousand People — 
Report to the Religious Telescope — A Dance Announced in Opposition 
to the Meeting — Closes with an All Day Service — Baptism of Mr. 
Little — Result of the Meeting — Revival at Cascade — Preaches to the 
Church — Consecration Service — Opposed by Saloonists — A Young 
Lady Comes to the Altar at the Commencement of the Service — Pas- 
tor's Report — Seventy-five Conversions. 

After spending a few weeks at his home in York, 
Pennsylvania, in which time his health had greatly 
improved, Mr. Little returned to Wisconsin, and en- 
gaged in revival work at Rutland, with Rev. A. W. 
Whitney, who w T as pastor of the church at that place. 
Many thought that no good could be accomplished at 
Rutland, that there were too many obstacles in the way 
of a successful revival. But many others believed that 
God was going to revive his work there, and they began 
to pray and work for this object. There was great in- 
terest manifested from the start, and on the second even- 
ing nine came forward to the altar; one was converted 
— a young man who has since become a very efficient 
worker in the church, and very successful in winning 
souls to Christ. As the interest continued to increase, 
it was found that the church was far too small to accom- 

58 



RUTLAND, WISCONSIN. 59 

modate the people. Mr. Little then sent east for his 
large tabernacle, and very soon accommodations were 
provided for one thousand people. The following ap- 
peared in the Religious Telescope concerning this revival: 

"The revival at this place has been in progress two 
weeks. About fifty have professed conversion, and as 
many more have asked the prayers of the church. All 
classes of society are being reached. The influence of 
the meeting is being felt in neighboring towns and com- 
munities. This is a very busy season of the year in the 
West, but the multitudes come. Our church is packed, 
and many go away, unable to get even standing room." 

In this meeting there was a great deal of opposition 
from the world, but God overruled it all for the good of 
the cause, as the following incident will show: The 
first week of the meeting the enemies of the cause tried 
to have a dance, and, in order to draw a crowd, it was 
announced that the proceeds were to be given to the 
evangelist. On hearing this, Mr. Little immediately 
announced that he would receive no such gift. They 
failed, however, to secure the hall; and that night the 
converts' meeting, instead of the dance, was held there. 

These meetings continued for -Q.ve w x eeks, and, although 
they were held during the busiest season of the year, yet 
the interest continued unabated to the close. 

The meeting closed on Sabbath, July 1st. The day 
was very pleasant, and it was estimated that more than 
three thousand people assembled as participants and 
spectatorSc It had previously been announced that an 
all day service would be held, and nearly all came to re- 
main until the close of the evening service. The large 
tabernacle was crowded to its utmost capacity, and hun- 



60 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

dreds stood outside. Iiev. N". G. Whitney, in the Religious 
Telescope, says: 

" In the hour allotted for testimony, sixty-three spoke 
of their hope and purpose, and on the call for a standing 
testimony, it appeared somewhat like the revelator's 
'innumerable company.' At the close of the afternoon 
service, the vast throng repaired to the water, where 
about forty were baptized by immersion, Mr. Little be- 
ing the first to go forward in the ordinance. And here 
comes the never to be forgotten event of this memorable 
day. When he arose out of the water, his countenance 
was so radiant with heavenly light, that persons standing 
on the bank of the lake, and several rods distant, saw it, 
and wondered what could cause such illumination of 
countenance. I have been permitted, in twenty years 
of ministerial life, to participate in and witness many 
baptismal services, and have seen candidates made shout- 
ingly happy, and others so overcome with the power of 
God as to lose consciousness, but never anything like this 
special manifestation of God's power, love, and glory." 

The meeting closed with the evening service, which 
consisted of prayers, songs of praise, exhortations, the 
celebration of the Lord's Supper, and the farewell w T ords. 

This meeting resulted in the conversion of one hun- 
dred and fifty souls to God. 

CASCADE, WISCONSIN. 

On the 16th of September, 1883, Mr. Little began his 
labors at Cascade. The people, having heard of his meet- 
ings at other places, were exceedingly anxious to see and 
hear him for themselves, and he was greeted with a large 
audience at the first service. 



CASCADE, WISCONSIN. 61 

Mr. Little soon found that the church at this place, 
though desiring that he should be instrumental in bring- 
ing about a revival, were themselves spiritually cold and 
indifferent, and not at all aroused as to their individual 
responsibility in the work. He, therefore, addressed his 
first three discourses to the church, in order to arouse 
them to renewed consecration and decided action. He 
urged upon all the necessity of getting ready for this 
w T ork. For, w T hile he declares that it is by God's Spirit 
that any good is accomplished, yet he recognizes and 
asserts the fact, that God works through human instru- 
mentality; that man is not to be idle, but is to be a co- 
worker with God. This w T as eminently fitting and proper; 
for every genuine revival must begin with the church, 
and unless the church is consecrated and actively en- 
gaged in the work, there can be no permanent results. 
At the close of the last discourse to the church, he held 
a consecration service, in which all Christians, of what- 
ever name, were invited to participate. In this service a 
great many of the followers of Christ heartily united. 
Mr. Little's preaching and exhortation throughout the 
meeting was plain and pointed, denouncing sin, whether 
found in the world or in the church. If he found that 
there were formal professors of religion in his congre- 
gation, he did not hesitate to warn them. 

"Such Christians," he would say, "make God sick. 
For He says, ' I would thou wert cold or hot. So then 
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I 
will spew thee out of my mouth.' " 

In his appeals for a higher and better life, only those 
who were walking with God and living in harmony with 
his laws, escaped the searching truths which fell with 



62 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

such power from his lips. Such plain declarations of 
truth could not fail to excite opposition, the bitterest 
of which came from the saloon-keepers and their patrons. 
For the whisky traffic, as the common foe of humanity 
and religion, received his bitterest denunciations. But 
this opposition had no effect upon the meeting. The 
crowd increased with every service, and the interest be- 
came greater each day. The religious awakening was 
genuine and thorough. 

On the second Sabbath of the meeting, as the audi- 
ence was singing, "To Jesus I will go," and just as Mr. 
Little was about to announce his text, a young lady 
arose and forced her way through the crowd to the altar, 
and, kneeling down, began to call upon God for mercy. 
Mr. Little immediately closed the Bible, and gave a 
general invitation to sinners to come to Christ, while 
the vast audience continued to sing, in low refrain, the 
chorus above named. Rev. X. G. "Whitney, in [reporting 
this meeting, says: 

"While I have witnessed powerful manifestations of 
the power of God at other meetings, I have never seen 
such solemnity, and such impressions of God's presence 
and power, as were manifested and realized on that morn- 
ing by those present. The most hardened in sin were 
moved to tears, and all were made to feel that God was 
in the midst of his people in great power. The skeptic- 
ally inclined could not account for such powerful mani- 
festations, nor for the impressions w r hich seemed to be 
made by the voice of song, and that in accents but little 
above a w r hisper. 

" Those who were opposed to the methods and w T ays 
of the evangelist, or were enraged at his fearless de- 



CASCADE, WISCONSIN. 6& 

nunciation of all wrong doing, and the full and clear 
presentation of the truth, could not stay away from the 
meetings, although vowing, when they went away, that 
they would come no more. One man, especially, who 
was greatly incensed with him, and expressed great dis- 
like to his ways, kept coming, until he reached the altar 
and was saved. 

" There are some things connected with this meeting 
worthy of record, because of their relation to church 
work in general. With one exception, the first eighteen 
converts were Sabbath-school scholars, demonstrating 
the fact, that where faithful w^ork is done in the Sabbath- 
school, it will result in good; that the seeds of truth 
sown shall bear fruit unto eternal life; and that the 
heart thus prepared by proper culture and religious in- 
struction, yields soonest to the claims of the gospel and 
the influence of the Spirit. 

"For three weeks the meetings were continued with 
increasing interest; scarcely a meeting passed without 
some one starting out to serve God, and at times the 
audience was so large that it was difficult to hold altar 
services. There was a young man, near the town, in the 
last stages of consumption, who was led to Christ after 
he was confined to his bed. On the morning of October 
7th, after the congregation had assembled, there came 
the message that this young man w T as dead. This was 
to have been the closing day of the evangelist's labors at 
this place, and he held his farew T ell service in the even- 
ing, remaining over Monday to attend the funeral. 

"On Monday, just before the funeral services began> 
there came another announcement of the work of death. 
One of the oldest and most influential citizens of the 



64 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

country had fallen dead in a neighbor's yard. Had God 
audibly spoken, it seems it would not have produced a 
deeper impression than the announcement of his death, 
and the time of his burial. A deep solemnity rested up- 
on the audience throughout the entire funeral services, 
and the requests were many and pressing for the evangel- 
ist to remain through the week. He at last consented 
to do so. From the funeral, the meeting seemed to sweep 
all before it, and the results of the last week were, in 
conversions, nearly equal to the three previous ones." 

This meeting resulted in the quickening and strength- 
ening of the church, and the conversion of seventy-five 
souls. 



CHAPTER IX. 

HEVIVALS AT LAG0NDA, OHIO, VEEDERSBURGH, INDIANA, AND 



"Work at Lagonda — Preaches to the Church — Report from '%agondaNews" 

— Large Numbers at the Altar — Report from the Springfield Republic 

— Number of Conversions — Veedersburgh Revival — Pastor's Report — 
Result of Meeting — Revival at Rossville — Permanency of fhe Work 
— Number of Conversions. 

The evangelist began a meeting at Lagonda, Ohio, 
November 23, 1883. A preparatory service was begun, 
the Sabbath morning previous, by the pastor, Rev. S. W. 
McCorkle. He preached from the words found in Ne- 
hemiah 8: 3. He dwelt at length upon the great re- 
vival brought about by the faithful efforts of Nehemiah 
and his people, and said that by a like concert of effort, 
and faithful work, the same happy results might be 
reached by them. After the evening service, the pastor 
announced that there would be prayer meeting each 
evening until the arrival of the evangelist. 

Mr. Little arrived on Wednesday. He attended the 
prayer meetings, but did not attempt to preach until 
Friday evening. He preached that evening from the text, 
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the 
Lord of hosts." His remarks were addressed to the 
5 65 



66 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

church, and the service was one of great profit. Satur- 
day evening the weather w T as very inclement, but a good 
audience was present. Mr. Little preached a searching 
sermon, and numbers arose for the prayers of the church. 
The members of the church were then invited to the 
altar and engaged in a service of prayer. On Sabbath 
day the crowd w r as very great, and deep interest was 
manifested. The church was now T fully aroused to duty, 
and began in earnest to work for souls. From one of 
the Springfield papers we clip the following: 

a The little man of God is plain and unassuming;, 
every one is learning to love him, for his earnest, de- 
voted efforts to the one business of his life. He has a 
cordial shake of the hand, and a fervent ' God bless you/ 
for every one within his reach." 

A reporter of one of the Springfield papers, in the 
"Lagonda News," says: 

" The revival services are increasing in interest. The 
children's meeting on Saturday w r as attended by about 
seventy young people, and a precious meeting was the 
result. In the evening, as announced, a meeting for the 
seekers was held at the parsonage, which was well at- 
tended. A number designated themselves as seekers, 
and two professed to be blessed and reclaimed from a 
backslidden state. 

"Sabbath morning a large number attended class 
meeting, which was a grand feast to all believers, and 
certainly set all who w T ere not, to thinking. At 10:30 
the evangelist preached from the words, 'Son, go work 
to-day in my vineyard.' It was the grandest and best 
sermon he had yet preached, exhorting the church to 
individual work as the way to do the greatest good. 



LAG0NDA, OHIO. 67 

The way to be happy ourselves is to make others happy. 
A church, to be -useful and to have the members happy, 
must be a praying and working church. The church is. 
no place for drones; the busy bees give us a worthy ex- 
ample of the fate and worth of drones. He made many 
good points, and exhorted the people to find their place; 
to come out to the altar. In the evening there was a 
large audience. Seven persons came to the altar, and 
such appeals as were made to a Throne of grace, and to 
those out of Christ, by the ministers, are seldom heard!'* 

The number of penitents who came to the altar in- 
creased at each service. On Thursday the evangelist 
preached from the words, "Prepare to meet thy God." 
He made a powerful appeal to the unsaved to make 
preparation, without a moment's delay, for the life to 
come. Twenty-four came to the altar, and four professed 
conversion. On Sabbath morning the pastor, Rev. S.W. 
McCorkle, preached, and at the close of the services ten 
persons united with the church. In the evening, long 
before the time for services, the church was full. Twenty 
came forward for prayers, and, at the close, three united 
with the church. On Monday night twenty-six were at 
the altar, and six were happily converted. 

Of these meetings a reporter to the Springfield Repub- 
lic says: 

" The revival is still increasing in power and interest, 
Tuesday night being the best of all the feast. The 
evangelist exhorted from a number of verses of the first 
chapter of Proverbs, beginning with the words, 'My 
son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not,' etc. It was 
a terrible warning and touching appeal to the young 
man, to leave the haunts of sin and vice and fly to Christ 



68 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

for refuge. The sermon was a power, and, one would 
think, ought to move a heart of adamant. Eighteen 
came out to the altar, and six of them were converted. 
The conversion w r as very bright and thorough in each 
case. One man was converted in the afternoon while at 
work in his shop. This meeting was attended with the 
greatest manifestations of the Spirit; some were shout- 
ing, others were weeping and praising God — a regular 
old-fashioned Pentecost. The unconverted sit and trem- 
ble; some try to laugh and drown their convictions, but 
they are plainly visible. Our people never had a better 
time to turn in with the overtures of mercy than now; 
and woe be to that one who fights the Spirit and drives 
it away, more than likely forever, as an opportunity like 
the present seldom comes. The services Friday night 
were among the best of the series. The power of the 
Lord came down, and gladdened the hearts of many. A 
converts' and seekers' meeting is held a half hour before 
the regular service each evening, at which a number 
have been converted. The evangelist did not try to 
preach, being so much exhausted, but, after a few words 
of exhortation, invited the seekers forward, and eleven 
designated themselves. One young lady was converted, 
and, just as the benediction was pronounced, another — 
a married lady — took hold by faith, and was wonder- 
fully blessed; then followed an old-fashioned praise and 
hallelujah meeting. It was a time long to be remem- 
bered by those present. 

"Sabbath morning, after an excellent class-meeting 
service, Rev. S. W. McCorkle preached from the words, 
'Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?' being the 
words of the Master concerning the barren fig tree. The 



LAG0NDA, OHIO. 69 

minister applied the words of the parable to the condi- 
tion of his hearers who were barren and unfaithful in 
good works, in such strong terms that all must have 
been impressed with the truth. After the sermon, eleven 
persons joined the church, three by letters, the others 
being young converts. Two persons were also baptized. 
The evening service was an interesting one. A good 
audience braved the storm. The evangelist felt like be- 
ing led by the Spirit, and had a mixed service — prayer 
and speaking meeting, and several short exhortations — 
then called for seekers. Fifteen came out, and two of 
them were converted. It was a victory, and a grand 
meeting, for the Sabbath night, which is usually not so 
spiritual, because of the large crowd and the worldly 
element prevailing. At the close of the services, four 
united with the church, making fifteen for the day. 
Monday night was another exceedingly stormy one, yet 
a good audience was out at church, the meeting still 
holding up in interest and power. Mr. Little exhorted 
from one of Christ's sermons, and spoke with great 
earnestness. Thirteen came to the altar; one, a husband 
and father, was converted. One man received the light 
while at work in the shop, another after going from, 
church Sabbath night. Thus the grand work goes on; 
it is now reaching out among the parents, and those 
who will make good, substantial, working Christians. 
The church members realize the importance of earnest, 
persistent work, and are doing a great amount of per- 
sonal solicitation. Selecting some relative or friend, they 
make him a subject of prayer, and he seldom fails to 
come out. Faith and works together accomplish won- 
ders." 



70 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

At the close of this meeting the newspaper reporter 
says: 

"As stated yesterday, the boy evangelist left for his 
new field of labor at Veedersburgh, Indiana, after five 
weeks and four days of faithful and earnest labor among 
ns. Many of our people will, while life lasts, bless his 
name and memory, that he ever came among us in his 
labor of love. He is the most devoted and earnest Chris- 
tian we ever knew, — is wholly given up to his Master's 
business. He is, if such a thing can be, overzealous and 
anxious to serve the people, and is fast wearing his young 
life away. He was worn entirely out when he left here, 
his fragile body and voice needing rest badly. He was 
urged to stay a w r eek longer, and rest, but he had an- 
nounced to open another meeting, as above stated, this 
evening, and no amount of persuasion could keep him." 

This meeting resulted in arousing the church, and 
leading] Christians to a fuller consecration to the Mas- 
ter's service; and up to the time of the departure of the 
evangelist, sixty-eight had united w^ith the church. 

VEEDERSBURGH, INDIANA. 

Veedersburgh is said to be one of those towns which 
have sprung into existence as by magic; and amid busi- 
ness activities and social pleasures, the people had quite 
overlooked and grown indifferent to spiritual things. 
The pastor of the United Brethren church, Rev. J. R. 
Scott, knowing something of Mr. Little's w T ork, sent him 
an urgent call to come and assist him in holding revival 
services. Mr. Little consented; and, on his arrival, im- 
mediately began work. 

This was, indeed, a difficult place in which to labor, 



VEEDERSBURGH, INDIANA. 71 

as the preaching of the word, the ordinary methods of 
the pulpit, seemed to have lost all power to draw or hold 
the people. In a short time, however, it was apparent 
to many that Mr. Little, with his peculiar methods, his 
intense enthusiasm, was the instrument chosen of God 
to arouse the people from their indifference, and lead 
them out of their worldliness to G-od. 

"Rev. T. 0. Beaty, in speaking of these meetings, says: 

" Mr. Little, at all times, kept well tempered, full of ex- 
pedients, a grand strategist, equal to the counter schemes 
of his and the church's foes. He never seemed to he at 
a loss in the form the meeting would assume, and was 
always at hand with some suggestion, or mode of oper- 
ation. 

"Perhaps no town the size of Yeedersburgh ever op- 
posed the work of God more; but no town ever got such 
a supernatural shaking, such a baptism of power, as it 
did. Perhaps it never before had seen holy fervor, nor 
its ears heard such God-messages as fell from the evan- 
gelist's lips. Never in all these weeks of arduous work 
did he speak to listless hearers, never did he send them 
to their homes without ringing truths filling the cham- 
bers of their souls. 

" * The presence of that man in our town,' said a very 
intelligent gentleman, ' is enough to stamp religion with 
■divinity.' 

"'Mr. Little,' said another, 'does not use the best of 
language, yet his words cut like a Damascene blade; nor 
■does he soar on winged rhetoric, yet he lifts the mind 
to the unseen realm; nor can he polish an argument to 
"bristle with proofs, yet when he speaks, conviction seizes 
with a master hand.' " 



72 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

Thus the whole town discussed the man, and rushed to 
the place of preaching, night after night, and, while so 
doing, the power of God took hold of their hearts with 
irresistible force. And this place, which a few weeks be- 
fore seemed beyond the power of any influence to move 
was shaken by the power of the Most High. As before 
they had been indifferent, so now they were enthusiastic, 
and the w 7 ork went on with increasing power. 

The evangelist labored here three weeks, during which 
time one hundred and ten souls were converted to God. 



At Rossville, Illinois, a meeting of great interest was 
held by the evangelist. It began under more favorable 
circumstances than the one at Veedersburgh, yet some 
feeling of misgiving as to the result of the meeting and 
the evangelist's ability to carry it on successfully w T as 
manifested. Also, many were prejudiced against evan- 
gelistic work. But it took only a short time to convince 
the people that the evangelist was a man of God, and 
that God, through him, would accomplish a great work 
in their midst. 

Mr. Little worked incessantly, as sometimes there were 
as many as live services a day; but such was the interest,, 
that these were all well attended. 

Some very clear cases of conversion occurred at these 
meetings, and the good accomplished seemed permanent. 
As a result of this revival, about one hundred were con- 
verted. 



CHAPTEK X. 

REVIVAL AT INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 

Indianapolis Church — Arrival of Evangelist — The People Disappointed 
— Preaches to Attentive Listeners — Urges the Church to Entire Con- 
secration — A Full House on Second Night of Meeting — Day Meetings 
and Young People's Meetings — Interest Increasing — Consecration 
Service — Altar Crowded with Penitents — Evangelist's Sermon on Suf- 
ferings of Christ — Extract from the Sentinel — Forty Conversions Dur- 
ing First Week — All Denominations Engage in the Work — Great 
Crowds — Large Numbers Saved — Services at Opera House — Note 
from Religious Telescope — Report from the Daily Sentinel — Calls to 
Other Churches — Numbers Saved Daily. 

In February, 1884, Mr. Little began revival services 
in Oak Street United Brethren Church, Indianapolis, 
Indiana. These meetings were of great power, and re- 
sulted in the salvation of many. 

Mr. M. Hatfield has the following report of the re- 
vival, which we give in full: 

"The United Brethren church at Indianapolis for 
many years had but a small membership, consisting of 
some twenty-five or thirty. It was scarcely known as a 
church outside of its own membership, and frequently 
inquiries have been made as to its location without re- 
ceiving a satisfactory answer. There had been many 
discouragements surrounding it as a church, and our op- 
portunities of presenting its principles before the public 
were very limited. It had been a child of Conference, 

73 



74 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

and had been sustained by her liberality for many years. 
Good ministers had been appointed to the charge, and, 
although they had succeeded well at other places, they 
failed here, so far as building up the church was con- 
cerned. Thus we labored on, hoping and praying that 
the Lord would revive his w T ork. 

"In the past three years there had been some increase 
in our membership, under the pastoral care of Eev. 
A. C. Wilmore and Kev. P. B. Williams. A regular old- 
fashioned revival of experimental religion w r as much 
desired, but it was not thought possible, and many ex- 
pressed themselves that it would be useless to try the 
experiment. Brother Williams, our pastor, entertained 
a different opinion, and suggested that we engage the 
services of the evangelist, G. K. Little. Through the 
efforts of Brother Williams his services were procured. 

"The first meeting was held at the United Brethren 
church, on Oak Street, February 23, 1884. The attend- 
ance was not large, and there was a feeling of disap- 
pointment on the part of many of the congregation when 
Mr. Little entered the pulpit. His small stature, delicate 
frame, and boyish appearance excited considerable com- 
ment. After a short introductory, he took his text, 'Xot 
by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord 
of hosts.' His preaching was listened to attentively; 
and soon the novelty of his manner, and his peculiar 
way of conducting the services, w T ere forgotten, and a 
deep and intense interest pervaded the congregation. It 
w T as apparent that Mr. Little had umvavering faith in 
God, and a constant recognition of his power, his love, 
and mercy, and a heart devoted to whatever was pure 
and holy in his sight. He spoke encouragingly to the 



75 

church, and urged upon them the duly, as Christians, to 
always stretch forth their hands to the unfortunate, and 
raise them up from degradation to God, from vice to 
virtue, from immorality to a pure and holy life; and, as 
a church, to pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and 
to more fully consecrate themselves to God. 

"On Friday night the church was filled, and after the 
regular song-service, he took for his text the words, ' Ye 
must be born again.' His remarks were based upon the 
positive command of Jesus in his conference with Nico- 
clemus; without this new birth, praying won't save you, 
morality won't save you, baptism won't save you, but if 
you would be saved, ye must be born again. 

" It was a noticeable fact that Mr. Little had no partic- 
ular forms to govern the exercises, no programme to 
follow; but at all times he invoked the aid of the Holy 
Spirit, in prayer, in his preaching, and in his singing. 
He made a special request to Christians to rear again 
the torn-down altars of God, and let their prayers go 
forth on wings of faith. 

" The services of the Sabbath were somewhat varied, 
it being quarterly meeting occasion. Elder McNew 
preached in the morning with great power and effect. 

"On Monday the evangelist inaugurated the day meet- 
ings at 3:00 p. M., young people's meetings at 7:00, and 
regular services at 7:15 p. m. It was thought by some 
that the day meetings would not be sustained; but Mr. 
Little would listen to no arguments of that kind, and 
said, 'I have full confidence in God, and we have his 
promise, if we will only trust him.' At the appointed 
time the church was well filled, and the power of God 
was fully manifested in the rejoicing of his saints. These 



76 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

meetings proved to be indispensable, and were really the 
training school, or stepping stones, to the revival. 

" The interest of the meeting began to increase, and on 
Monday night the church was filled to overflowing. 
There was no preaching, but the time was occupied in 
an old-fashioned love feast; the testimonies were positive, 
not of the past, but of the present; no long or elaborate 
phrases, but simply the evidence of their acceptance w T ith 
God. Many shouted forth the praise of God, which w r as 
rather a strange thing for a congregation to do in the 
city of Indianapolis. Members of other churches, and 
those not members of any church, began to get interested, 
and evinced the warmest feeling toward Mr. Little and a 
deep interest in the revival, and hope began to spring up 
in our hearts that a great revival was imminent. The 
church had commenced working in earnest. Rev. P. B. 
Williams, the pastor, gave control of the meeting to the 
evangelist, but was at all times ready to work, and will- 
ing to make any sacrifice for the cause of Christ. 

" On Tuesday night the whole membership was invited 
to the altar for a full and entire consecration to God, and 
for a baptism of the Holy Spirit. The blessings of that 
hour put the church in a proper spirit for any emergency. 
Mr. Little then gave the opportunity for all that desired 
the prayers of the church to manifest it by an uplifted 
hand. Scores of hands went up all over the church. 
'Now/ said he, 'we are going to have altar service, 
and if you are in earnest, come to this altar and we will 
pray for you; but first let us ask God to help us.' He 
knelt before the altar and talked with God. When the 
opportunity was offered, the altar was crowded, and 
many deathless souls emerged into the light of heaven. 



INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 77 

"On Thursday night the evangelist preached on the 
physical sufferings of Christ. His power of illustration 
was truly wonderful; the congregation was bathed in 
tears, and sobs were heard all over the house, as he por- 
trayed the sufferings of the Son of God, his love for the 
world, his death on the cross. He painted the terrible 
scenes of Calvary as they were never painted before. He 
held, as it were, the picture before the audience, and 
charged each one who had slighted his mercy with aid- 
ing in the driving of these nails, piercing the bleeding 
side, and rearing this rugged cross. Oh, how persua- 
sively did he point 'sinners to the Christ of Calvary, and 
invite them, if they would be saved, to come to those 
outstretched arms, extended wide for a lost and ruined 
world, and accept this Christ now! Many from all parts 
of the house arose from their seats and crowded to the 
altar, and twelve were gloriously saved. The Sentinel 
of the next morning contained the following: 

" ' The boy evangelist, George K. Little, is getting the 
revival at the United Brethren church down to solid 
work, and the church is much encouraged by the spirit- 
uality of these meetings, the number of conversions 
and accessions to the church, the large attendance, and 
the good order which pervades the congregation. The 
first week of the altar services there were forty-two con- 
versions and twenty-three accessions. The interest is 
daily increasing, and it has the appearance of being a 
revival of no small magnitude. The earnest manner and 
unbounded faith of the evangelist impress his audience 
that his whole soul is in the work and his help from the 
Lord. He throws aside all formality, and conducts his 
meeting sometimes by preaching, sometimes by exhorta- 



78 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

tions and prayers and songs. His sermon on the suffer- 
ing of Christ melted the hearts of the audience to tears, 
and one would almost imagine that they were witnessing 
the agony and sufferings of the dying Son of God on 
Calvary. He takes the bright side of life for the Chris- 
tian, and presents a dark picture for sin and iniquity. 
He is denominational in the strictest sense, and has no 
sympathy with religious tramps, but urges that the duty 
of every Christian is to unite with some evangelical 
church. The Christians of many other churches are 
aiding in this work.' 

" On Friday night the church was filled. There were 
hundreds outside and many hundreds went away. Dur- 
ing the song-service the spirit of enthusiasm pervaded 
the audience, and during his prayer the evangelist 
changed his position from kneeling to standing and 
walking. He then took his text, 'This night thy soul 
shall be required of thee.' He most forcibly pointed 
out the danger of procrastination, and gave many in- 
stances where opportunities had closed without the soul's 
return to God, being lured by the insinuations of the 
prince of this world, that there was 'time enough yet, 
time enough yet.' Many penitents came to the altar 
and found the pearl of great price. 

" There had been more than forty conversions the first 
week of the revival. The influence was now spreading 
over the city. It was talked of on the streets, in the 
banks, and places of business. The daily press had sent 
reporters, who passed many encomiums on the evangel- 
ist and on the glorious work he was doing. Christians 
of all denominations gave much encouragement to him 
on his mission of love. He not only endeared them to 






INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 79* 

him by his plain and earnest preaching, hut by his unas- 
suming manners and unwavering trust in God. He had 
touched a chord in the hearts of the unsaved, by preach- 
ing a crucified Christ, that would have remained unaf- 
fected forever under the preaching of sermons upon 
some popular theme of the day. 

" On Sabbath, the pastor, Rev. P. B. Williams, occupied 
the pulpit, and preached a sermon in full sympathy with 
the efforts which had been put forth by the * boy preacher/ 
At night the church was crowded, and a thousand or 
more could not gain admittance. The street in front of 
the church was filled with a mass of people, but good 
order was observed by the aid of police. Mr. Little did 
not preach from any text, but his exhortation was of 
such power that it might be truthfully said, that Christ 
did the preaching and Mr. Little the exhorting. The 
altar services were dispensed with on account of the 
crowded condition of the house, but after dismissal many 
came to the altar and were happily converted, and twen- 
ty-three united with the church. The afternoon meet- 
ings had been held regularly, and at times the church 
was filled to its utmost capacity, and many would stay at 
the church until the night services. 

" On Monday night the church was filled long before 
the hour for services, which time was spent in singing 
songs of praise. At the conclusion of the sermon there 
were many hands raised for the prayers of the church, 
and many came to the altar, and seven were converted. 

"There were one or two incidents at this meeting 
which were very affecting: A little girl, not more than 
six or seven years of age, was converted. She arose from 
the altar and told her experience with such child-like 



80 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

simplicity that many tears of joy were shed while she 
related it. There were two brothers who came to the 
altar and were happily converted; three of their sisters 
then came up to the altar. They, too, knelt down and 
were saved through the precious blood of Christ. 

" There was such an anxiety to hear the evangelist by 
those who could not get into the church, that it was pro- 
posed to rent the Grand Opera House for services at 3:00 
p. M. on Sabbath. Many of the citizens seemed to sym- 
pathize with us in having the services at a time when we 
would likely fail in getting an audience, as it was the hour 
w T hen all the Sabbath-schools were in session; but at the 
appointed hour we repaired to the opera house, and it was 
filled. The Sentinel of Monday contained the following: 

" ' The " Boy Evangelist" preached at the Grand Opera 
House yesterday, and drew one of the largest and most 
attentive audiences that ever assembled at that place. 
The auditorium was filled to its utmost. All standing 
room taken, the galleries were resorted to, and all room 
was occupied by those who had come to hear the words 
of life as they fell from the lips of the evangelist. 

" ' There were many ministers of other denominations 
seated on the stage. The first half hour was consumed 
in singing gospel songs and offering prayers. In the 
former the boy preacher exhibited a good deal of fervor, 
walking from one part of the stage to another, and ex- 
horting his hearers. His prayer was a strong appeal for 
the weal of the city. 

"'The evangelist took his text from the fifty-third 
chapter of Isaiah, where the prophet, speaking of the 
Savior, says, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and 
carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, 



81 

smitten of God, and afflicted. Bat he was wounded for 
our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the 
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his 
stripes we are healed." Mr. Little had no Bible in his 
hand, but recited his text from memory. He said: 

"'"I want you to forget all the surroundings, forget 
that you are in the opera house, and come and go with 
me to the land of Palestine, and trace the path of God as 
he walked the earth enshrined in humanity. Let us take 
up that old Hebrew volume, and read from its sacred 
page. Is there no beauty there to fire the heart and 
warm the brain? Even as we read, does not the face of 
Jesus shine from every page? that face that painter 
never painted, with its serene divinity looking out from 
those clear, deep eyes; that face where God is written in 
every outline with eternal love for poor, forsaken man. 
Let us follow that face as it appeared above the hill-tops 
in the golden twilight of Palestine; as it approached the 
poor man's hut, and shone in the dark windows upon 
the hard crust of the poor and sorrowing ones. Oh, how 
they rose up to welcome that face! How rude men bent 
down before it and wept! How tender women knelt in 
its light and gazed into those divine eyes ! But we must 
hasten on. Come, go with me to Jerusalem. I enter a 
room in that city and see the blessed Jesus; there is 
John, the beloved disciple ; there is Peter, and there, too, 
is Judas, with the treasurer's bag. Here is instituted the 
Lord's Supper. Christ takes the bread, and having 
blessed it, gives to the disciples. He also passes the 
wine, saying it is the blood. He makes known that 
there is a traitor among them. Is it possible that any 
one can betray the Lord and Master? ' Is it I? ' 'Is it I?' 



82 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

they ask, and the word goes round, 'Is it I?' all eager 
to know T who would be such a w T retch as to betray the 
Master. Judas leaves. The others do not know where 
he goes. I follow him down the street; he enters the 
house of the high-priest. Here is a band of ruffians met 
to conspire against the Lord. Judas is with them, and 
sells the Master for fifteen dollars. Is not the Lord 
worth more than that? Judas did not think so; and 
there are men and women here who betray him for less 
than that, — betray him in the dance, in the theater, and 
in their business transactions. The rule is, seek first the 
kingdom of heaven, and all else shall be added. This is- 
true. My word for it, he will add everything else that 
is needed. I have no sympathy with hypocritical relig- 
ion. I have no patience with the man who wears a long 
face on Sunday and steals on Monday. The Savior says, 
'Arise, let us go hence.' I follow the master. He goes 
out to the garden ; goes out to pray. This w r as his last 
night; yea, his last hour was near at hand. Here he 
knelt down and poured out his heart. I hear him say, 
< If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.' When I 
reflect that he bore this agon3 T for me, it tears my heart. 
I see the great drops of blood that stand on his forehead. 
Think, man, think, woman, that he sweat this blood for 
you, for us, that we might not perish. In the distance 
I hear the sound of feet, and see the light of lanterns. I 
wonder for whom they are looking. What! is it possi- 
ble? I see the face of Judas. He had been with the 
little band three years. He was with the Master; saw 
the miracles he did; was with him on land and sea. Is 
it possible that this Judas leads a band of rebels? They 
come out as if looking for a murderer; they come out at 



INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 83 

the midnight hour. They did not take him when he was 
surrounded by his friends, — when he was with his peo- 
ple, — for they feared the people. 'Whom seek ye?' he 
asks. ' Jesus of Nazareth,' they reply. Jesus answered, 
' 1 am he.' The men step back and fall to the ground. 
I do not know what power there was in these words. 
Judas puts his arm around the Savior and kisses him — 
gives him the kiss of betrayal. Hear the yell of the mob 
as they take him away, take him from one place to an- 
other. Yes, I ought to love him. I ask all to love him. 
When fourteen years of age, I bowed my heart in prayer, 
and I thank God for it. All should love him. Pilate 
wanted to release the Savior. He found no fault in him. 
He desired to release Jesus rather than Barabbas. The 
people would not hear to this; they preferred a thief to 
the Savior. Is it not so to-day? Yes, I believe it is; 
they prefer a thief to the Savior. Pilate washed his 
hands of the blood of this just man. They hurry him 
away, crying for his blood. Like blood-hounds they 
tear his clothes. They put a robe of mockery upon him; 
a crown upon his forehead; they scourge him. I saw a 
man scourged in Baltimore. I never want to see such a 
sight again. But the scourging of this man was nothing 
compared to that of Jesus. I see the lash brought down 
upon the Son of God. Is this all? No, no ! Would to God 
it were all! Would that relief had come to him then! 
They hasten him away to suffer on the cross. They lay 
the cross upon him; he must bear his own burden. He 
was surely bruised for our iniquities, and wounded for 
our transgressions. Let us go with the rabble. They 
take him to Calvary's rugged brow; they bind him to 
the cross; the cruel nails pierce his hands and his feet; 



84 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

they place a crown of thorns upon his head, while blood 
is trickling over his face. All have deserted him now, 
save the beloved disciple and a few faithful women. The 
mob is triumphant now; and there, up the awful cliffs 
of Calvary, he bears the cross alone; while Jerusalem 
pours through her gates by thousands to look upon the 
face of the dying Son of God. Under the darkened 
heavens and groaning earth, as the heavy air rung out 
with that unspeakable agony, ' My God, my God, why 
hast thou forsaken me?' methinks I hear him say to the 
father, 'I could bear the scorn of these priests, I could 
bear this cross, these bloody hands, this pierced side, this 
streaming brow; but then, God! why hast thou for- 
saken me?' Listen; w r e hear that voice again, as he asks 
the Father to 'forgive them, for they know not what 
they do.' I believe that it was this that converted the 
thief on the cross. I bless God for a religion that takes 
a man out of the gutter; takes the woman whom every- 
body else refuses. If some poor abandoned woman 
would come to you, ladies, and say she w r anted to live a 
better life, would you take her in? I say no; yet Christ 
would take such an one, and make her pure."' 

"Mr. Little made a beautiful application of his text, 
in the case of a girl who had wandered from the path 
of right, and who turned again to the true path, when 
she felt that Christ, indeed, had been bruised for her 
iniquities. His power of illustration was truly wonder- 
ful. A death-like stillness pervaded the vast audience, 
and one would almost imagine that the tragic scenes of 
Calvary were before them. Some in the galleries leaned 
over the railing to catch each word that was spoken. I 
heard some of the unconverted say, they never knew 



INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 85 

how great were their sins until that hour. Mr. Little 
spoke some forty minutes. The congregation was dis- 
missed without an altar service, yet there were some 
converted. The daily press of the city all spoke in the 
highest terms of commendation, and two of them gave 
a summary of the sermon. 

" The Religious Telescope, of March 19th, contained the 
following from the pastor, Rev. P. B.Williams: 

'"The grand work of grace, through the labors of 
George K. Little, the " Boy Evangelist," still continues 
with unabated interest. The third week closes with one 
hundred and fifty-eight saved, and many deeply con- 
victed. Last Sabbath, at 3:00 p. m., Mr. Little preached, 
at Dickson's Grand Opera House, to a crowd of more than 
two thousand, and still hundreds went away for want 
of standing room. When we announced the appoint- 
ment at the same hour of city Sabbath-schools, many 
friends said, " What a pity ! You will not draw a crowd 
at that hour." They were surprised. The expenses were 
twenty dollars, and the collection thirty dollars, making 
fifty dollars collected on Sabbath at church and opera 
house. The Daily Sentinel gave a report of the meeting 
and the sermon. It is astonishing how the Christian 
people of the city united with us in the meeting. The 
work is spreading through the entire city. One result 
is a unanimous call to Mr. Little to Grace Methodist 
Episcopal Church, Blackford Street Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and a number of other calls to some of the most 
popular churches of the city. The crowds at our church 
are so great that we are compelled to issue tickets to 
those desiring to seek religion. These tickets are hon- 
ored, notwithstanding the crowd. 5 



©0 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

"Mr. Little was in receipt of letters from those who 
could not attend the services at the church, to preach 
again at the opera house; and one letter censured him 
because he did not have an altar service, and also give an 
opportunity of rising to any who might wish the prayers 
of the church. The meeting at night was grand indeed, 
and the power of God came down upon the people. 
There were thousands who could not get into the church. 
In speaking to a prominent member of the largest church 
in this city of our inability to accommodate the masses, 
he remarked that w T e need have no regrets about that; 
*For,' said he, 'there is not a church in this city large 
enough for those who would attend.' 

"Long before the time for meeting on Monday night, 
the house was filled and the doors closed. After the 
usual song service, Mr. Little preached from the text, 
'How wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?' He 
drew a picture of the brevity of life, the certainty of 
death, and the length of eternity. Oh! how he did im- 
plore sinners to come to Christ before they reach death's 
dark river, with no hand of Jesus to lead them over, 
but stand on the verge, while all is dark, all is terrible. 
You can not pierce the beyond — you will enter the 
swelling of Jordan with no lights on the other shore; 
no Jesus gliding over the cold, dark waves; no angels to 
sing hymns to your deathless souls; no hand to lead you 
up to immortality and to God; no friends to greet you 
beyond the dark, turbid waters; no Jesus, no resurrec- 
tion, no heaven: but all is lost, and forever. While thus 
exhorting, many penitents arose in the congregation and 
kneeled down at the altar, and before the services were 
ended, twenty-one came out of darkness into light. 



INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 87 

" The meetings were growing in interest daily. It was 
impossible to accommodate half of the people who de- 
sired to attend. "We were strongly urged to occupy some 
of the larger churches, but it was thought best to con- 
tinue at Oak Street. On Tuesday and Wednesday it was 
simply a repetition of the past, as far as numbers and 
interest were concerned. All the time, the clay meetings 
had been continued, and many remarked that they were 
the most impressive meetings we had. There were altar 
services at some of these meetings, and many conver- 
sions. On Wednesday night the evangelist spoke on the 
torments of the wicked and eternally lost soul. He 
pointed out a way of escape through the blood of the 
suffering Son of God, and that they might find salvation 
now. The altar was again filled, and when one would 
arise, rejoicing in the Lord, another would take his place. 
The meeting did not close until near eleven o'clock, and 
there were twenty-two conversions. On Thursday and 
Thursday night Mr. Little was very much indisposed, 
•and made no attempt to preach, but held experience 
meetings. At times there would be from five to eight 
upon their feet to testify to the matchless love of Christ. 
It really appeared as if everybody were happy, except 
the unsaved; and at the altar service many came forward, 
and twelve experienced the forgiveness of sins. On Fri- 
day night all room was occupied in the church an hour 
before the time for service. Over one thousand people 
had to return home, yet many lingered in the cold in 
front of the church. Mr. Little took no text, but spoke 
from the song he had just read, 'Rescue the Perishing,' 
after which many came to the altar, fourteen were con- 
verted, and fourteen were added to the church." 



CHAPTER XL 

INDIANAPOLIS REVIVAL, CONTINUED. 

Mr. Little Again at the Opera House — Report from Daily Times — Fourth 
Week — Interest Still Increasing — Ten Conversions Sabbath Night — 
Great Crowds — Altar Service Impossible — Mason Long at one of the 
Services — Extract from Daily Times — Sermon by A. Armen — Closing 
Services — Number of Conversions — Revival at Grace Methodist Epis- 
copal Church — Number of Conversions — Revival Continues at Oak 
Street — Incidents Connected with Revival at Oak Street — Remarks 
Concerning Evangelist. 

"The fourth Sabbath of the meeting the house was 
again filled at our morning class meeting, after which 
Rev. P. B. Williams preached to an attentive audience. 
His text was, 'Let us now go even unto Bethlehem/ 
He preached with great power, and the sermon made a 
deep and lasting impression on the hearts of his hearers. 
The opera house was again procured for the afternoon 
service. One hour before the time — the doors not being 
opened — the sidewalk and street were filled with an eager 
throng, and when the doors were opened, the rush was 
so great that one of the large doors was wrested from 
its hinges, and carried some distance along the aisle, by 
the surging mass. Although the opera house had a ca- 
pacity for three thousand persons, } T et there were not less 
than one thousand persons that could not gain admit- 
tance. The audience was composed of the best class of 
citizens. Ministers from nearly all the churches were 






INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 89 

seated upon the stage. The following is from a reporter 
of the Daily Times of March 17th: 

" ' The revival services which have been in progress at 
the United Brethren church, on Oak Street, for the past 
two weeks have increased in interest, until the building 
has long since become too small to hold the constantly 
increasing crowds, and steps are being taken looking 
toward more commodious quarters. 

'"The results thus far have been one hundred and 
sixty-nine conversions. The work is being carried on by 
the " Boy Evangelist," Eev. George K. Little, assisted by 
Rev. P. B. Williams, pastor of the church. 

" ' The evangelist's manners and mode of conducting 
his services are quite interesting and novel, and in some 
instances new and original. He was born in Baltimore,. 
Maryland, in 1860, and is therefore only twenty-four 
years of age, and has been in the evangelistic work three 
and a half years. 

" < In stature and personal appearance, movements and 
gestures, he is almost a twin brother to the evangelist. 
Rev. Thomas Harrison, and the tone of his voice is so 
similar, especially in prayer, that the listener is at a loss 
to know whether he is not in the presence of the latter. 
Indeed, to many who have seen Mr. Harrison while at 
Roberts Park, during the " great revival," Mr. Little has 
the appearance of imitating him in his methods and 
manner of conducting his services. However, in conver- 
sation with the Times reporter, Mr. Little said he had 
never attended but one of Mr. Harrison's meetings, and 
that was in 1876, shortly after his conversion, and some 
four years before he had the remotest idea of entering 
the evangelistic field, and he had not seen him since. 



90 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

They have no personal acquaintance, but Mr. Little fre- 
quently speaks in the very highest terms of praise of the 
work done in this and other cities by his brother evan- 
gelist. Mr. Little's parents having died when he was 
quite small, he was placed in an orphan asylum, and from 
there apprenticed to learn the printer's trade when but 
twelve years of age. His educational advantages were 
very limited, he having spent altogether but three years 
in the school-room, and he claims that whatever ability 
as a speaker he may possess is the direct gift of God. 
He is of quick, nervous temperament, and wdien con- 
ducting his services, is given to pacing to and fro in 
front and around his pulpit. He is a ready, witty, hu- 
morous, and at times an eloquent speaker, and is a firm 
believer in the old-fashioned plan of altar conversions, 
and is averse to saying, "Praise God from whom all 
blessings flow," until the conversion of the penitent is 
assured by " no uncertain sound." lie is given to more 
preaching than is usual with revivalists, and in so doing 
is methodical and yet sprightly, using many illustrations. 
He is quite apt, however, to be guided by the require- 
ments of the hour, and will as often cease preaching in 
the middle of a sermon, and instantly change the service, 
as he will conclude it. He knows nothing of the classics, 
and his sermons are, therefore, not up to the modern idea 
of pulpit finish, but have been acceptable in churches of 
all denominations, wherever he has labored. He is a firm 
believer in the doctrines taught by the church of his 
choice, but is quite liberal in his labors with other de- 
nominations. It is understood that at the close of his 
present engagement he will accept a call from Grace 
Methodist Episcopal Church, this city. 



INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 91 

" < The services at Oak Street Church yesterday began 
with an old-fashioned love-feast meeting at 9:15, followed 
hy a sermon by the pastor and reception of members into 
the United Brethren Church. 

" ' The services at night were of the usual character, 
and hundreds were turned away before seven o'clock, 
being unable to gain admittance. 

"' SERVICES AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE. 

"'Long before the hour appointed for the meeting, at 
3:30 o'clock, the seats of the Grand Opera House were 
filled, and standing room was difficult to find. Upon the 
stage were a large choir, and the following ministers of 
the city: Rev. Daniel Stover, Dr. J. W. Keeley, Rev. T. H. 
Lynch, Dr. W. H. Kendrick, Rev. T. S. Gillette, Rev. 
H. C. Mabie, and Rev. A. S. Bright. 

" ' The evangelist announced the hymn, " Hold the 
Fort," and a half hour's song service followed. The 
opening prayer was made by Rev. T. H. Lynch, when the 
evangelist announced as his text for the hour, Daniel 5: 
27, " Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found 
wanting." He said: 

" ' " The night has come down on Babylon; all places of 
amusement are closed, and the populace are to attend the 
feast at the palace of King Belshazzar." After describing 
his imaginations of the scenes of this occasion, and por- 
traying the drunkenness and hilarity, he said, " Suddenly 
the scene changes, and the king looks upon the wall, and 
is unable to decipher the handwriting on the wall; he calls 
for the soothsayers and wise men, and they, too, are un- 
able to interpret the writing; and the king calls for one 
Daniel, a Hebrew, and he interprets the writing in the 



92 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

language of the text." He said he would not dwell upon 
the scene, hut would try to weigh each one of his entire 
audience. He would weigh each by the law. "We will 
suppose we have weights something like the weights of a 
scale, but they are the balances of God. We will take up 
the first weight, ' Thou shalt have no other gods before 
me." 3 He then proceeded to set out in detail the vast 
number of idols worshiped by man — idol of wealth, 
fashion, ambition, and, in fact, anything placed before 
God in our affections; and showed, by several apt illus- 
trations, that many in the audience have been weighed, 
and found wanting. The third balance is, " Thou shalt 
not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." 

" ' The fourth balance he called, " Remember the Sab- 
bath-day, to keep it holy." He went into a description 
of very many callings and kinds of business now going 
on, w^hich he said were a violation of God's law, and all 
persons so engaged would hear, "Weighed in the bal- 
ances, and found wanting." 

" ' The next weight was, " Honor thy father and thy 
mother." The evangelist portrayed the growing ten- 
dency of the present age to forget this commandment, 
and thought one of the weakening sins of the nation is 
the lack of reverence for our fathers and mothers. All 
who are guilty of a lack of honor for parents are weighed, 
and found wanting. 

" 'He then took up the next balance, "Thou shalt not 
kill." He then showed that, while none before him 
would actually commit murder, God says that "whoso- 
ever hateth his brother is a murderer," and all who have 
the least hatred for their brethren are weighed, and 
found w r anting. He then took up each of the remain- 



INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 93 

ing commandments, and showed by an analysis of each 
commandment, and by taking up common, every-day 
practice, that many in his audience were weighed, and 
found wanting. 

" ' He closed with the statement that Christ would step 
into the other balance with any sinner who has been 
"found wanting," and by his presence, and according to 
the plan of redemption, all who wanted to take the Re- 
deemer's hand would then be found not wanting. He 
called for an expression of a desire, on the part of any 
in the audience who wished to be saved, and hundreds 
arose all over the audience. The effort throughout was 
successful, and at the close the evangelist expressed his 
gratification at the interest manifested.' 

" Throughout all these services, many of the Christian 
people of other denominations were in full sympathy 
with the revival, and aided much in the good work; and, 
as Christian co-workers, their labors were indispensable. 

" The meetings for the past week had not only in- 
creased in interest, but had assumed such dimensions that 
it was hard to control them in our church, on account 
of not having the capacity to accommodate the masses. 
The meeting on Sabbath night was one long to be remem- 
bered ; although Mr. Little was much worn by incessant 
toil, yet his zeal for the cause of Christ was unabated. 
Full of spirituality and faith in God, he labored on. 
There were at this meeting ten conversions, and twelve 
accessions to the church. 

" On Thursday night the evangelist preached from the 
text, < What must I do to be saved?' He made this ques- 
tion a personal matter to each one of his audience, and 
it certainly was the crowning effort of his preaching; it 



94 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

really seemed as if the power of the Holy Ghost had 
taken charge of the services. Sinners felt as they had 
never felt before. The church w^as so crowded that it 
was impossible to have altar service; but Mr. Little was 
equal to the emergency, and requested those who desired 
to seek salvation, to kneel in their pews, and prayers 
would be offered for them. Many availed themselves of 
this opportunity, and were converted. On Friday night 
Mason Long, the reformed gambler of Fort Wayne, was 
present. The Daily Times has the following: 

"'Long before seven o'clock last night, Oak Street 
United Brethren Church was crowded, and the aisles wore 
literally packed with people. It is estimated that fully 
five hundred were turned away, being unable to gain ad- 
mittance. The revival conducted by the " Boy Preacher,'' 
Geo. K. Little, at the above-named place, has long since 
outgrown the small building, and Mr. Little has demon- 
strated the fact, that were the largest church in the city 
open to him, he would, in a few evenings, crowd it with 
people anxious to hear him. The revivalist is but twenty- 
three years of age, and has been engaged as an evan- 
gelist scarcely three and a half years; but from reports 
from other cities in which he has labored, and from the 
results which have followed his engagements here, it is 
evident that he is already the equal of Rev. Thos. Harri- 
son, whose success in this city, some three years since, 
was so remarkable. 

"'Mr. Little has accepted a call to Grace Methodist 
Episcopal Church, this city, where he will have a little 
larger church in which to labor than he has had at Oak 
Street. Many of his admirers have expressed the hope 
that the services may continue at Grace Church until 



INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 95- 

warm weather, when Mr. Little may be induced to pitch 
his " revival tent," which will hold about seven hundred, 
in some convenient quarter of the city where the masses. 
may be accommodated. 

" ' In addition to the ordinary exercises last evening, 
the presence of Mason Long, the converted gambler of 
Fort Wayne, added great interest to the meeting. Mr. 
Long gave a portion of his experience in a plain and 
modest manner. His demeanor, while referring to his 
career as a gambler, is free from the boastful and ego- 
tistical attitude commonly assumed by reformed gam- 
blers, drunkards, etc. He is a rapid speaker and displays 
an ordinary education, and is remarkable only in his- 
earnestness and simplicity. In the course of his remarks. 
he said: "At the age of ten years I was left an orphan 
through the influence of rum, my father having been 
suddenly taken from me. Without the usual home com- 
forts, I went from bad to worse, until six and a half years, 
ago. A little Sabbath-school girl presented me a Bible 
when I was a gambler. Without the thought of a future 
I opened this little Bible and turned to Romans 5 : 10, 
and after reading ten verses I became convicted of sin,, 
and through the instruction of Dr. Earl, the evangelist^ 
I was led to the altar of prayer and soundly converted." 
He then, in a very earnest and often in an emotional 
manner, exhorted the young converts before him to stand 
firmly, and not be overcome by the many allurements 
which are sure to come. He told many incidents of his 
experience while a gambler, and portrayed the danger 
of such a life, and paid some attention to what he termed 
"business gambling" (dealing in margins). He warned 
his young hearers against engaging in the dance, public 



96 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

or private, the rum cup, popular amusements, and so- 
called innocent pleasures of the times. He said they 
always had a downward tendency, and in almost every 
instance led to ruin. He pleaded for the protection of 
the young girls, and exhorted Christians never to close 
the door in the face of a fallen girl. He then repeated a 
story contained in one of his books, entitled, " Save the 
Girls," of the gradual fall and ultimate ruin of a beauti- 
ful girl, the child of wealth and social position. During 
his description of the death-bed scene of the unfortunate 
girl, w T hich occurred in shame and disgrace, the audience 
displayed much emotion. He closed by cautioning the 
fathers and mothers in his audience to always know 
where their boys and girls are at night, and to never lay 
temptation before them at home by encouraging the 
social glass, or the private or public dance. 

"'After Mr. Long had concluded, the evangelist urged 
the audience, as a sure refuge from the ills depicted by 
Mr. Long, to come forward to the altar and " seek the 
Savior w r hile he may be found." Soon the altar was 
filled, and the remainder of the evening was spent in 
altar exercises. As each conversion was announced, 
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow" was sung, 
and ten or twelve were converted during the evening.' 

" The services of the Sabbath were to be the closing 
services of the revival, and, at 10:30, Rev. A. A. Armen 
took his text for the Jubilee sermon, 'Rejoice in the 
Lord,' and often, while he was preaching, many obeyed 
the injunction of his text, and many 'Amens,' 'Halle- 
lujah,' and ' Glory to God,' could be heard through the 
congregation; nor did Mr. Armen take these rejoicings as 
ill-timed or out of place, but often joined in the chorus of 



INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 97 

praise. The effort was a grand one, and will long be re- 
membered by the worshiping congregation at Oak Street. 

"Over five weeks had passed since the commencement 
of the great revival, and now the time had come for it to 
close. Other calls and pressing demands for his services 
had to be fulfilled. Sabbath night, which was to close 
this series of meetings, we met in that capacity for the 
last time. The interest, if possible, was greater than at 
any other time. Mr. Little had labored incessantly, and 
had not been absent from any meeting. When he took 
the rostrum for the last time, the church was literally 
packed, and hundreds were outside at the doors and 
windows, and on the surrounding house-tops, anxious to 
hear the closing words of the evangelist". He took no 
text, but set forth the duty of the church in taking care 
of the lambs of the flock. He seemed loath to close the 
services without inviting sinners to Christ. The altar 
was again crowded, many were saved, and fifteen were 
admitted into the church. The last words of exhorta- 
tion had been spoken ; the last prayer was yet to be made. 
He kneeled before the altar, his cheeks pale, his voice 
tremulous with emotion, and seemed to talk face to face 
with God. Many a 'God bless you' was spoken from 
the lips of that kneeling multitude. The prayer was 
ended, the last good-by said, and ' Praise God from whom 
all blessings flow' was sung again and again, for the vic- 
tories gained in this revival over death and sin. 

"In summing up the known results of the revival, 
there were one hundred and ten accessions to the church, 
and every one was taken into full membership. A record 
had been kept, and there were two hundred and sixty- 
three conversions, and, upon careful inquiry, we can state 



98 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

that, as far as could be ascertained, all have united with 
some evangelical church. It was prophesied by many 
that there would be a great falling away when the revi- 
val was over, but such has not been the case; for instead 
of falling away, they are growing in grace, and in the 
knowledge of the truth. 

"It was greatly desired by Mr. Little's friends, and 
strictly ordered by his physicians, that he should cease for 
a time, at least, from such incessant labor; but in a few 
days he grew restless, and his indomitable spirit urged 
him onward, and he went to Grace Methodist Episcopal 
Church to engage for a week in revival services. He 
labored one, two, and three weeks with grand success,, 
the church crowded, the altar filled, over one hundred 
and fifty conversions, and nearly one hundred admitted 
to the church. 

" Since Mr. Little closed his services at our church, the 
revival interest keeps up beyond what we anticipated. 
There have been quite a number of conversions, and over 
fifty accessions to the church. Our church now has a 
membership of more than two hundred and thirty, and 
I have heard it remarked again and again, that the 
United Brethren church on Oak Street is the most spir- 
itual church in the city. Our attendance at prayer-meet- 
ing is from one to two hundred, and the membership are 
not content with being merely nominal members, but 
are active, working, earnest Christians. Some six weeks 
after the meeting closed, we assembled on the river bank, 
and there, in the presence of a vast multitude, fifty of 
the converts received the ordinance of baptism by the 
pastor, Rev. P. B. Williams. It was a beautiful day, a 
grand sight; there was much rejoicing, not only by those 



INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 99 

who had acknowledged Christ in this ordinance, but by 
those who witnessed the ceremony. Our church, before 
the revival, was almost unknown in the city; but not so 
now. There are many kind words in regard to it, and 
it is no difficult matter to learn the location of the First 
Church of the United Brethren in Christ on Oak Street. 
When it was first proposed to engage the services of the 
boy preacher, many thought it would be a failure, others 
spoke derisively, while others said it would be impossible 
to meet the expenses. Brother Williams went among 
the members, and obtained the promise of about thirty 
dollars. He was a Holy Ghost revival man, and was 
willing to trust the Lord for the remainder, but after a 
few meetings it was fully demonstrated that there need 
be no fears in regard to the meeting. When the meeting 
closed, there had been over three hundred dollars col- 
lected — nearly all raised by the basket collection. Of 
this amount we paid Mr. Little one hundred and sixty- 
two dollars. Chandeliers, chairs, and other fixtures were 
bought for the church. The rent of the opera house was 
forty dollars for the two services, and the basket collec- 
tions for the same were fifty-nine dollars, and after all 
expenses were paid we had over forty dollars in the 
treasury. I mention these facts to show that expenses 
are always easily met when the church is willing to work. 

"INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE REVIVAL. 

"One Sabbath afternoon Mr. Little appeared uneasy 
and restless. When interrogated as to the cause, he said, 
' I have been trying to think of some text that will reach 
the hearts of my congregation and glorify God, but I am 
at a loss in this regard.' While talking thus, a sudden 



100 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

thought seemed to impress itself upon his mind. He 
arose and said, ' Come, let us go out to Crown Hill Ceme- 
tery. I may there think of something which God de- 
signs I should talk ahout.' As we entered the enclosure, 
throngs of people w T ere coming and going; some from 
mere idle curiosity; some thoughtlessly w r andered among 
the monuments, which stood as silent sentinels over the 
place where lay the sleeping dust; others were there to 
visit the grave of kindred or friend, and still others 
to pay the last tribute of respect to departed kindred, 
watching with tearful eyes as the grave closed over them, 
shutting them out from sight forever. While passing 
along, a man, past the meridian of life, took Mr. Little 
by the arm and pointed to a grave with this simple in- 
scription, 'Freddie/ and said, 'There sleeps my darling 
grandchild. Two years ago to-day we laid him here; 
how willingly would I have died in his stead! That 
form rises up before me as if it were but yesterday; 
his golden locks and dark blue eyes — I see them yet. I 
can hear the well-remembered tones of that voice, as he 
sang that song he loved so well, "Dowm at the cross 
w T here the Savior died." He was the hope of my declin- 
ing years. This was a beautiful world; yes, a happy 
world, till Freddie died. Although death had visited my 
household, and taken from me my own loved ones, yet I 
was young then, and could better bear the conflicts of 
life; but when Freddie died, my home was, indeed, left 
desolate. No change of scene could deaden sorrow; con- 
stant w r restling with the world could not divert my mind, 
and I must confess that all was dark and terrible; but 
now, Brother Little, my heart runs out in grateful ado- 
ration to God, that I ever heard you preach on the suf- 



INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 101 

ferings of Christ. Oh, what are ail our sorrows here 
compared to what he suffered for us! This religion of 
which I heard you talk comforts my heart, and tells me 
my loved ones are not dead, but gone home. They were 
my idols on earth, but now treasures in heaven. I thank. 
God that my pathway through life is now lighted by the 
hope of a grand reunion by and by.' As we left that 
spot, Mr. Little said, ' Oh, if every one would come to 
Christ, there would not be so many sad hearts in this 
world. And now I shall talk of the scenes we have wit- 
nessed to-day.' 

"When we arrived at the church it was crowded. 
Mr. Little stepped on the rostrum, and without reading 
a lesson or singing a hymn, he said, 'Let us pray.' His 
prayer was full of sympathy for the bereaved and sor- 
rowing ones; tears coursed down his cheeks; he had 
opened a fountain in the hearts of his hearers, and all 
eyes were suffused with tears. He arose from his knees, 
took no particular text, but spoke of the sorrows of life, 
and then pointed them to that blessed home beyond the 
skies, where no sorrow ever comes, where sorrow and 
sighing shall flee away; no tears there, for God shall 
wipe away all tears; no night there, for the glory of God 
doth lighten that city; no death there, for Christ con- 
quered death, and ever liveth to make intercession for 
us. "While thus talking, many arose from their seats and 
came to the altar without an invitation. Some kneeled 
in their pews. A deep conviction pierced many hearts. 
Over one hundred arose for prayers, twenty-three were 
converted to God, and fifteen joined the church. 

" A young and gifted lady was deeply convicted. Mr. 
Little went to her, and told her of the love of Jesus, and 



102 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

bested her to °rive lier heart to God. Her answer was, 
•Oh, no, not now; I will wait until yon go to Grace 
Church! I feel that I ought to come now, but something 
whispers, "Time enough yet;" hut pray for me, Mr. Little.' 
He then left her, with a heavy burden on his heart. Be- 
fore the close of the meeting that night, Mr. Little made 
this announcement, ' There are some here to-night who 
are deeply convicted; they have put off their return to 
God, and, oh, I feel it is a fatal step; and to-night they 
will pass the threshold of this church for the last time! 
Oh, beware! beware!' The revival closed at Oak Street, 
and while conducting the services at Grace Church, this 
note was handed him, 'Brother Little, come and pray for 
a dying girl.' Before he reached there, she w T as dead. 
When dying, she said, 'Oh, had I given my heart to 
Jesus at Oak Street, I might have been saved, but now 
too late, too late; all is lost!' 

" During the revival the dread disease small-pox broke 
out in the city. It was within two squares of the church. 
Some who had been at the revival took the disease; but 
even this had no tendency to keep away the thousands 
who assembled to hear the evangelist. Mr. Little made 
the request frequently that Christians remain at home, 
that the unsaved might get into the church. 

"During the revival there were many harsh expres- 
sions made in regard to the evangelist, nor was there 
any lack of comparisons. One man, when asked his 
opinion of him, said that 'he was a pretty lively hoy, hut 
that he would make a better clown than a preacher. 5 
Before the meeting closed, both he and his wife united 
with the church. Some others, who had made unguarded 
expressions^ or who had spoken intentionally, came and 



INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. 103 

apologized. There were some in our own church who 
were very loath to help in the good work, and were hope- 
ful that he would not succeed; but they soon repented, 
and gave their aid and sympathy to the cause. 

" Socially, Mr. Little is, in actions, somewhat mirthful. 
He takes the bright side of life for the Christian, and the 
dark side for sin and error. His bitter opposition to 
dancing and card-playing, whether in the social circle or 
gambling-room, and the frequenting of theaters and 
other doubtful places of amusement, has frequently 
caused the remark to be made that he was an ' old fogy ; 7 
but should any be permitted to hear his arguments, they 
would no doubt come to the conclusion that the patri- 
archs, prophets, Christ and the apostles, Wesley, Luther, 
and Otterbein were of the same school. 

" It may be true that Mr. Little is somewhat eccentric ; 
for, while preaching, at times he occupies the pulpit, 
other times he is standing on the bench in front of it, at 
other times along the aisle, and at no time is he still for 
& moment, even in prayer, sometimes kneeling, then 
again standing or walking around. In his delivery, he 
speaks very plainly and quite fluently, rather musically 
at times, with an undertone of the softest cadence. His 
gestures are easy and natural, and are only the outgrowth 
of the earnestness with which he enters into his subject, 
while speaking forth the worcfs of life. He does not de- 
part from the teachings of Christ, makes no compromises 
with sin, and at all times impresses upon the hearts of 
his audience that the pathway of every true reformer is 
in the footsteps of Jesus, and not away from them. 5 ' 




■■ ■ '.. ._ 



XML iWi 



CHAPTER XII. 

TABERNACLE AND CAMP-MEETINGS. 

Meeting at Fennimore, Wisconsin— A United Brethren Society Organized 
— Closing Services — A Meeting of Great Power — Number of Conver- 
sions — Camp-Meeting at Lisbon, Iowa — Results of the Meeting — 
Camp-Meeting at Elgin, Iowa — Christians Earnestly Engaged in the 
Work — Sabbath Services — Large Crowds — Penitents Come to the 
Altar at Morning Worship — Number of Conversions — Revival Influ- 
ence Reaches to Other Communities. 

At the close of a revival held in Illinois, Mr. Little 
went to Fennimore, Wisconsin, and engaged in revival 
work. At this place the meetings were held in the large 
tabernacle owned by Mr. Little. This, though seating 
near seven hundred, was soon found too small to hold 
the people, who came from far and near to attend the 
meeting. The United Brethren Church having no so- 
ciety here, one was organized on the closing day of the 
meeting. 

The closing day was one not soon to be forgotten by 
those who were present. At an early hour the people 
began to come from all directions. In the morning Mr. 
Little preached a stirring sermon, and in the afternoon a 
testimony meeting was held, in which many testified 
that Christ was a wonderful Savior from sin; and that 
the Christian religion was a sufficient portion amid all 
the trying scenes of life. In the evening the evangelist 

105 



106 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

preached from the text, < ; I must preach the kingdom of 
God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent." At 
the close, among other things, he said, "My hand is upon 
the door of this special series of meetings; soon it will 
be closed. I will leave for other cities and towns, to 
preach the gospel of light and peace to others. You, I 
am afraid, will he left in your sins, and, perhaps, the 
closing of this door to-night will forever bar you out of 
the kingdom.'' He pleaded with the unsaved to decide, 
then, for Christ and heaven. When the invitation was 
given, twenty-four came forward to the altar for prayer. 
Near the close of the meeting, while all were engaged in 
a season of silent prayer, suddenly the Holy Spirit came 
upon them. In a moment twenty-four persons had sprung 
to their feet, and were rejoicing in sins pardoned. With 
one accord, the whole audience arose, and looked with 
astonishment upon this wonderful display of God's power. 
One unsaved young lady stood upon a bench, wringing 
her hands and gazing toward the altar, where the people 
w T ere shouting, weeping, and praising God. To a friend 
near by she said, "I tell you I was frightened. I thought 
it might be the judgment." Mr. Little now closed this 
wonderful meeting with his farewell words. He had la- 
bored at this place two weeks, during which time one 
hundred and twenty-five souls were converted to God. 

LISBON, IOWA, CAMP-MEETING. 

Mr. Little now labored in a number of camp-meet- 
ings. At the close of a very successful one at Polo, 
Illinois, he went to Lisbon, Iowa, to assist in a camp- 
meeting to be held there. This was the sixth annual 
meeting of the Lisbon Camp-Meeting Association. It 



ELGIN, IOWA, CAMP-MEETING. 107 

was held on their grounds, one mile from Lisbon, com- 
mencing August 22, 1884, and continuing one week. 

This was one of the most successful meetings ever 
held on the ground. A number of souls were led to 
Christ, and the church was greatly revived. Mr. L ; ttle 
Tiad charge of the evening services, and preached with 
his usual power. Not so many were led to Christ at 
this meeting as at others conducted by the evangelist 
the great good coming to believers, who were greatly 
strengthened and qualified for better service, and went 
to their homes feeling that this w T eek of communion with 
God had brought rich spiritual blessings to their souls. 

At the closing service, Rev. I. K. Statton advanced to 
the platform, and, taking the evangelist by the hand, 
spoke very appropriate parting w T ords, and, by request 
of the association,, extended to him an invitation to be 
present at the meeting to be held the following year. 

ELGIN, IOWA, CAMP-MEETING. 

From Lisbon, Iowa, Mr. Little accompanied the writer 
to Elgin, Iowa, to assist in the district camp-meeting 
held at that place. Having no ground here, we had to 
prepare one. After two days hard work, we succeeded 
in erecting the large tabernacle, with seats within, and 
on the ground just in front of it, sufficient to accom- 
modate more than one thousand people. At the first 
service, eight persons arose requesting the prayers of the 
church. The Holy Spirit w 7 as manifestly present at every 
service. A very noticeable feature of this meeting was 
the interest manifested by the Christian workers. It 
was evident from the first that they came there to work 
for the salvation of souls, and not for pleasure or for 



108 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

recreation. Every day, and every night, after other 
services, there were prayer-meetings held in different 
tents. And in the afternoons, between the afternoon 
and evening services, a group of men or of women might 
be seen at almost any time leaving the crowd, and going 
to some secluded spot, to kneel down and have a prayer- 
meeting with some inquiring soul. The people seemed 
to have nothing in their thoughts but this work. There 
was no anxiety that the meeting would not prove a 
financial success, neither was there any disposition to 
spare themselves any sacrifice in order to make it a re- 
ligious success. Consequently there was no visiting or 
gossiping on the ground, nor scarcely any conversation 
among Christians, except upon the subject of religion. 
The people forgot outside issues, and with one mind en- 
tered into the work. The meetings grew in interest 
every day, and souls were born into the kingdom of God 
at nearly every service. Thus the meeting continued 
until Sabbath. It is thought by many that the services 
of the Sabbath day at a camp-meeting — on account of 
the large crowd, and the impossibility of getting their 
attention — accomplish very little good. But this did 
not prove to be true at this place. The interest con- 
tinued to rise, from the morning meeting until the close 
of the day. At the morning and afternoon services es- 
pecially, the whole camp-ground seemed filled with the 
glory of the Lord, and many were heard to shout the 
praises of God. 

At the close of the afternoon services the people re- 
paired to the banks of the river to witness the baptism 
of a number of converts. The river bank was lined 
with thousands of people, and many in carriages drove 



ELGIN, IOWA, CAMP-MEETING. 109 

into the stream, and some across to the opposite bank. 
After singing, " Shall we gather at the river?" the can- 
didates, one after another, received the ordinance of bap- 
tism. Some of them came up out of the water with 
radiant faces, praising God, while all felt the presence 
of the Holy Spirit among the people. I have conducted 
many baptismal services, but never one so solemn and 
impressive as this one. Nor have I ever seen such deep 
feeling as prevailed in that large crowd of people during 
the entire Sabbath day. The crowd was estimated at 
about four thousand, and it was thought that a heavy 
police force would be required; but such was the order 
and quiet during the day, that no police were necessary. 

On Sabbath night twenty-four came to the altar, and 
twenty-five arose for the prayers of the church. On Mon- 
day night the interest was still greater, about twenty- 
five being converted; and, at almost the midnight hour, 
after the congregation had been dismissed, but were still 
lingering, others came forward to the altar and cried for 
mercy. 

It was our custom to meet every morning around the 
altar for prayer. On Tuesday morning, while thus en- 
gaged, sinners came uninvited to the altar to be prayed 
for. This meeting lasted until ten o'clock, and four were 
converted. At the closing service of the meeting, four- 
teen professed faith in Christ; others were seeking, and 
still others were very seriously impressed. 

The social meetings were very interesting and spiritual. 
There was not one moment's waiting; frequently four or 
five were upon their feet at the same time, waiting their 
turn to witness for Christ. Mr. Little preached with 
great power, and had great influence with the people. 



110 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

One old German woman walked three and one half miles, 
bringing her children with her, to hear him. That night 
she led her children to the altar to seek Christ. 

This was one of the greatest religious awakenings 
ever known in that part of Iowa. About one hundred 
souls were led to Christ. At the close of this meeting 
the interest extended to the churches, and for miles 
around revivals began, and hundreds were converted to 
God. Mr. C. H. Neidig had charge of the singing, Mrs. 
L. I). Williams conducted the children's meetings, and 
Miss Annie C. Bittinger presided at the organ. 






CHAPTER XIII. 

REVIVALS AT WEST UNION AND CASTALIA, IOWA. 

Revival at West Union — A Fair in Progress — Interest Increasing — A 
Dramatic Troupe Decide Not to Visit the Town — Great Crowds At- 
tend the Meetings — Many Seeking Christ — Closing Service — Meeting 
at Castalia — Skating Rink Closed — A Ball Announced Which Failed 
to Draw the People — A General Awakening — Whole Families Come to 
Christ — Testimonies. 

On the 14th of September, the evangelist began a series 
of meetings at West Union, Iowa. The meeting com- 
menced the same week that the county fair was in prog- 
ress, and on this account many thought it would be a 
failure. But Mr. Little had no fears, and said it would 
not be in the way in the least, but that the house would 
soon be crowded. 

Mr. Little is a rapid speaker, and quick and nervous 
in his movements. He believes in being led by the 
Spirit, and acts as the Spirit directs. If it is to preach, 
he preaches; if to pray, he prays; or, if it is to sing, he 
sings. He takes his audience by surprise. From one 
meeting, they do not know what to expect the next. 

The first meeting was on Sabbath evening. The house 
was packed, and quite a number arose for prayers. On 
Monday evening, the second evening of the meeting, 
about twenty -five arose for prayers. It was soon seen 

111 



112 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORE. 

that the fair did not detract from the interest of the 
meeting; but some coming to attend the fair, hearing of 
the meeting and the evangelist, perhaps from mere curi- 
osity, came to the meetings, and, under the preaching 
and singing, were convicted of sin, and sought and found 
pardon in Christ. The interest in the meeting now be- 
came so great that, long before the hour for service, the 
house would be filled, and many would be compelled to 
go away, unable to gain admittance. Many would stand 
on the outside — the windows being raised — during the 
entire service. Some came a distance of ten miles to 
the evening service, returning home at its close. 

A dramatic company had made arrangements to visit 
the place, during the week of the fair, and had ar- 
ranged for the printing of their bills; but before the 
time came for the printing to be done, word came to 
the printers not to get out bills for West Union, as they 
had heard that that "little preacher" was to be there, 
and, if he came, he would draw the crowd, and it would 
be useless for them to come. The little preacher came, 
but the dramatic company did not. 

Such was the interest at the evening meetings that 
Christians would sometimes stay for an hour or more after 
the congregation was dismissed, singing and praying with 
those who were seeking Christ. At one of the evening 
meetings, the crowd was so great as to render personal 
work in the congregation almost impossible, and just be- 
fore dismissal, Mr. Little requested the crowd to retire 
who were not especially interested, so there would be 
room for Christians to work. But so great was the in- 
terest that not one left the church. Many professors of 
religion, who had been living in the church in a state of 



113 

seeming security, under the pointed preaching of the 
evangelist and the wonderful displays of Divine power, 
were aroused to see their true condition, and to seek a 
better experience. Many of the penitents, as soon as con- 
verted, would go out into the audience, and plead with 
their friends to come to Christ. All who attended these 
meetings realized that the power and presence of God 
were there. Requests for prayer came in from all di- 
rections, for friends who were out of Christ; and many 
of these were unable to resist the strivings of the Spirit 
any longer. 

The meetings continued to grow in interest, up to the 
time the evangelist took his leave. Many requested him 
to remain longer, but his other engagements would not 
permit this. The last service was very impressive. It 
began with a testimony meeting, when, within thirty- 
five minutes, fifty-seven testified to the power of Christ 
to save from sin. Then followed a very impressive com- 
munion service. Many who but a short time before 
were hardened in sin, bowed around the altar, and, for 
the first time, partook of the emblems of the broken 
body and shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus 
Christ. After this quite a number came forward and 
united with the church, making in all twenty-seven ac- 
cessions for the day. Mr. Little now spoke some very 
touching and earnest parting words, and, at the close, 
requested all who wished to be remembered in the last 
prayer to rise. The entire audience arose to their feet, 
while Mr. Little poured out his soul to Cod in prayer 
for the workers, the converts, and for all the vast crowd 
which stood before him. Just before the meeting closed, 
he requested all who desired the prayers of the church. 



114 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

to raise a hand, when twenty-five or thirty thus evinced 
their willingness to seek a better life. 

After the evangelist left West Union, the meeting was 
continued as a union meeting of all denominations. As 
a result of all these meetings, three hundred and twenty- 
five were led to Christ. 



The revival at this place began Sabbath morning,. 
November 2d. For several years there had been re- 
peated efforts put forth to promote a revival at this- 
place, but all to no purpose, and at this time the church 
was very much discouraged, yet many w r ere still pray- 
ing for a revival. After the first service their hopes be- 
gan to revive, and their faith as to having a revival was. 
greatly strengthened. The meetings were interesting 
from the start, and soon became the topic of conversa- 
tion throughout the town. Most of the Christians so 
arranged their work that they were able to be present 
at every service. By Tuesday the house was crowded. 

On Wednesday evening a skating exhibition had been 
advertised at the rink, as the managers expressed it, to 
"draw a larger crowd than the 'Boy Preacher/" and, to- 
do this, they announced the free use of the hall. Even- 
ing came, but no skaters; and, at eight o'clock, they 
locked the doors, and the proprietors themselves came 
to the church. The skating rink failing to draw the 
crowd, a ball was announced for Friday night; but when 
the night came, only eight or ten were in attendance, 
and they w T ere nearly all Catholics. 

The power of God was being felt at the meeting, and 
penitents began to come to the altar. On Sabbath morn- 



CASTALIA, IOWA. 115 

ing and evening the church was greatly crowded, and 
many could not gain admittance. Frequently, in revival 
meetings, the young are the first to yield their hearts to 
Christ; but, in this meeting, aged and gray-haired men. 
and women were the first to come to God. The after- 
noon services were full of interest, and were largely at- 
tended; conversions occurred at nearly every meeting. 
Tuesday afternoon service was wonderful, on account of 
the manifestations of Divine power. Many who were 
out of Christ were so powerfully convicted that they sat 
trembling in their seats; others left the house and went 
to their homes, confessing that they must either give 
vent to their feelings or leave; and rather than ask the 
prayers of Christians, and call upon God for mercy, 
they chose to leave. Backsliders arose and confessed 
that they had wandered away from God. Wrongs were 
righted and reconciliations effected; and then the w T hole 
church was filled with a spirit of prayer. Children ago- 
nized in prayer for parents, and parents for children; 
husbands called upon God for the conversion of wives, 
and wives for husbands; and every heart felt a burden 
for souls, and earnestly implored Divine mercy upon 
them. This wonderful meeting prepared the way for a 
grand victory at night. The altar was crowded with 
penitents, and many were happily converted to God. 

On "Wednesday afternoon penitents were invited to the 
altar, and twenty-five came forward, many of whom 
were blessed in believing in Christ, and many others, at 
the close of the meeting, were fully persuaded to seek 
salvation. 

Wednesday evening, long before the hour for service, 
the house was full. Said a minister who was present, 



116 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

"We all knew, by the death-like solemnity which per- 
vaded the audience, that the great battle was at hand; 
every heart was uplifted to God for help, and when the 
organ pealed forth that soul-stirring air, ' When the bat- 
tle's over, we shall wear a crown,' we knew we had the 
victory for God." That night w^hole families were saved, 
and returned to their homes, at the close of the meet- 
ing, rejoicing in a Savior's love. Men who had passed 
through many revivals stated that they had never seen 
such wonderful out-pourings of the Holy Spirit as on 
that evening. At the close of the meeting, short testi- 
monies w r ere called for. Mr. Little said he did not want 
them to speak because they felt it to be a duty, but be- 
cause they esteemed it a privilege to speak for Jesus. 
In seventeen minutes fifty-three testimonies were given. 
One man, sixty -five years of age, who had been a back- 
slider for many years, said, " I have never been so happy 
in my life as to-day." A lady in middle life, and just 
converted, said, "This is the best place I ever was in, 
and I never saw a happier day than to-day." 

On Friday evening the services opened with a promise 
meeting. All were requested to recite some Bible promise 
which they had found very dear to them; and in thir- 
teen minutes seventy-eight promises w T ere recited. After 
the exhortation, sixteen presented themselves as seekers 
of religion. Saturday evening twenty united with the 
church, and on Sabbath morning, the opportunity being 
again offered, tw T enty-one united. The evening services 
closed the evangelist's labors at this place. The whole 
w T ork was a manifestation of Divine power, and many 
were born into the kingdom of God. 




Mrs G. K. LITTLE. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Marriage — Sketch of Mrs. little — Sources of Power — "Earnestness and 
Faith — Singing an Important Part of Service — Power of Song — In- 
stances of its Power in Leading Souls to God — Communion with God 
— Baptism of the Holy Spirit — Co-operation of the Churches. 

In January, 1885, Mr. Little was married to Miss 
Annie C. Bittinger, of Lisbon, Iowa. Her parents were 
formerly of Pennsylvania, but removed to Lisbon in 1865. 
They have three daughters, Annie being the youngest. 
Having a remarkably fine voice she was, at an early age. 
placed under the instruction of competent teachers, and 
subsequently entered the Conservatory of Music at Cor- 
nell College, one of the leading institutions of the North- 
west, located at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, to receive instructions 
in voice culture. After several years study she gradu- 
ated with honor, at the head of her class, in June, 1884. 
She also spent some years in the high-school at Lisbon, 
was for some time an efficient teacher in the Sabbath- 
school, and is a graduate of the "Western Sunday-School 
Normal Course. 

She is a lady of rare worth of character, an earnest 
Christian, modest and unassuming in manner, and places 
all her gifts and acquirements upon the altar of conse- 
cration, to be used only for the Master. Mr. Little first 
met Miss Bittinger at a camp-meeting at Lisbon; a 
mutual attachment sprung up between them, which re- 

117 



118 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

suited iii their marriage, which was solemnized by the 
writer, January 27, 1885. 

Mrs. Little's singing adds greatly to the interest of the 
revival meetings of the evangelist, into which she enters 
heartily, and with seemingly as much enthusiasm as her 
husband. 

SOURCES OF POWER. 

Many have asked this question concerning the evan- 
gelist, "Why are his labors crowned with such success? 
Wherein lies the secret of his power with the people?" 

Earnestness and Faith. 
In the first place, he is intensely in earnest in his work, 
and has unfaltering faith in God. He believes, and tells 
the people, that God is going to'pour out his Spirit upon 
them, and his earnestness and faith beget a like feeling 
in the minds of his hearers. They begin to feel that 
God is about to favor Zion, and look around to see what 
they themselves must do. He has a remarkable faculty 
for getting every one to work. He expects every Chris- 
tian to do something, and says, repeatedly, that unless 
the church is consecrated and actively engaged in work, 
they need not expect an extensive revival of religion. 

Sacred Song. 

Again, that which contributes largely to his success 
in revival work, is the singing. Mr. Little has a strong 
voice himself, and sings a great deal ; he also selects a 
large choir of the best singers to lead, then he urges 
every one to sing. Thus the vast audience, singing with 
so much enthusiasm, stirs the hearts of Christians, and 
makes a deep impression upon the minds of sinners. 

Singing is an important part of his meetings, as, in- 



SOURCES OF POWER. 119 

deed, it should be in all worship. It occupied an im- 
portant place in religious worship in the Bible, and was 
the outward expression of the praise and adoration of 
the heart. Miriam sang at the Red Sea, when Israel 
was delivered from Pharaoh and his hosts. AVhen the 
magnificent temple at Jerusalem was dedicated, among 
the services was that of song; and when all the instru- 
ments of music sounded, and the singers lifted up their 
voices in praise to God, saying, "The Lord is good; for 
Iris mercy endureth forever," then a cloud filled the house, 
and the glory of the Lord filled his holy temple. At the 
present, this service still holds its place; and many a 
heart has been moved by the voice of song, which had 
resisted all other influences to lead it to a better life. 

As proof of the power of song upon the human heart, 
let us note a few examples. Said a man in one of Mr. 
Little's Iowa meetings, "Mr. Little's preaching won't 
reach me, but if anything does, it will be the singing." 
The most powerful appeals did not move him, but the 
melody of song touched his heart. Another said, "The 
singing of the hymn, 'Is my name written there?' sent 
•conviction to my heart." 

While Moody and Sankey w^ere in England, a young 
man said, " I went down to the meetings the other night, 
just to see w r hat the fun was; and before I had been 
there long, Mr. Sankey sang something that went straight 
to my heart; so now I am a Christian, too." Another 
w 7 as led to Christ by the singing of the hymn, "Jesus, 
the water of life will give;" and still another by the 
song, "0, prodigal child, come home." 

Two Americans met in a saloon in Hong Kong. One, 
a, man past the meridian of life, w-as hardened in sin; 



120 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORE. 

the other, a young man, had only started upon the down- 
ward road. They had never met in such a place before. 
They began to gamble, and the young man soon lost all 
he had. Wishing to appear indifferent, he tried to divert 
his thoughts from his loss by whistling, and, without 
knowing what he was saying, he sang: 

" I think when I read that sweet story of old, 
When Jesus was here among men, 
How he called little children as lambs to his fold, 
I should like to have been with him then." 

The hardened man, under the influence of deep emotion,, 
suddenly turned to him, and, with tremulous voice, asked,. 
"Where did you learn that?" "In America, in the 
Sunday-school," was the reply. " So did I," replied he. 
" Here, take back your money, and give me your hand. 
Let us vow to each other that we will never enter such a. 
place as this again." It was the song, and the associations 
of home which it so forcibly recalled, that did the work. 
While the voice of song has so often stirred the hearts 
of the careless and wicked, it also speaks to Christian 
hearts, arousing them to a holier zeal, and leading them 
into closer communion with the Father. The child of 
God may be yearning to be "tilled with all the fullness 
of God;" then, from the depths of his soul, he sings: 

"Hover o'er me, Holy Spirit; 

Bathe my trembling heart and brow; 
Fill me with thy hallowed presence, 
Come, Oh, come and fill me now." 

Then, longing for entire consecration, how appropriate 
the stanza: 

"Here I give my all to thee, 

Friends, and time, and earthly store, 
Soul and body thine to be, 

Wholly thine forever more." 



SOURCES OF POWER. 121 

2sTow, the consecration fully made, with another inspired 
singer, he breaks forth: 

"The blessing by faith I receive from above; 
O, glory! my soul is made perfect in love; 
My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know 
The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow." 

Now the valley of doubts and fears has been left be- 
hind, and by faith he has crossed over into the land of 
Beulah, and then his heart responds with the poet to> 
the beautiful lines: 

' ' I am dwelling on the mountain, 

Where the golden sunlight gleams 
O'er a land whose wondrous beauty 

Far exceeds my fondest dreams; 
Where the air is pure, ethereal, 

Laden with the breath of flowers; 
They are blooming by the fountain 

'Neath the amaranthine bowers. 

*'I am drinking at the fountain 

Where I ever would abide; 
For I've tasted life's pure river, 

And my soul is satisfied; 
There's no thirsting for life's pleasure, 

Nor adorning, rich and gay, 
For I've found a richer treasure, 

One that fadeth not away." 

Thus it may be seen that sacred song has had, and al- 
ways will have, its mission to the hearts of men. 

Mr. Little recognizes this as an important factor in. 
revival work, and makes good use of it. He has a se- 
lection of the very best songs for revival use, and each 
song and solo seems especially adapted to the occasion,, 
and charms by its very appropriateness; and in this way 
the gospel story appeals with new force to the hearts of 
men, and sinners are convicted and led to Christ, wooed 
by the songs of salvation. 



122 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

Communion with God. 

Again, Mr. Little is in constant communion with God. 
A minister came to me, one day, and said, " It is no won- 
der he lias such power; he is on his knees so much of 
his time." In his revival services, when not engaged in 
active work, he spends most of his time alone with God, 
and comes to the pulpit with his soul filled and thrilled 
with the importance of the work before him. 

Baptism of Power. 

Above all, and overshadowing all else, is the power 
received through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In 
order to be efficient in gospel work, the Christian min- 
ister needs the induement of pow r er from on high. It is 
true, the age demands an educated ministry; men who 
can skillfully handle the word of truth, who are leaders 
of thought, aiding in the development of Christian phi- 
losophy, and in stimulating and molding the thoughts 
of others, as this holds its own relation to the advance- 
ment of the church and the world. But all natural and 
acquired ability will fail of accomplishing the highest 
amount of good, without the invisible and invincible 
power of the Holy Spirit. This is the promise of Christ, 
the Spirit to lead into all truth. After that great com- 
mand, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel 
to every creature," came the other command, " Tarry," 
until endued with power from on high; and it is this 
power, controlling and actuating Mr. Little, which moves 
men. Tt is the eternal truth he preaches, quickened by 
the living power of the Spirit, which flashes conviction 
upon the ungodly and causes their surrender to God. 
May all ministers and churches have this mighty bap- 



SOURCES OF POWER. 123 

tism for service. Then would there be a grand hasten- 
ing of the time when the earth shall be filled with the 
knowledge of God. 

Co-operation of Churches. 

The success attending the labors of any evangelist 
must depend, not entirely upon the direct efforts of the 
•evangelist himself, filled as he may be with the Holy 
Spirit, but upon the operation of the Spirit upon the 
church in setting it actively to work, and constantly to 
prayer. And it is a noticeable fact, that where a great 
revival has occurred, under the labors of any man of 
God, there has been hearty co-operation upon the part 
■of the church. 

This is an advantage usually had 'by the evangelist 
•over the pastor. The evangelist comes as a stranger; 
he knows nothing of the condition of the congregation, 
or of the feelings or prejudices existing between indi- 
viduals; so he can denounce sin without being thought 
personal, and advance-his own measures without being 
called officious. The church, as a body, is aroused. Its 
members do not stand back because they have not been 
•consulted with regard to his plans, for they know he 
works in accordance with his own plans, if he works 
nt all; and although new measures are introduced, and 
plans laid not in harmony with their ideas, and although 
the evangelist may be peculiar in many ways, yet they 
overlook all peculiarities, fall in with new methods, and 
go harmoniously to work, knowing this is the only thing 
to be done. God honors them for so doing, and grants 
them a gracious victory. 

Here the evangelist is master of the field; he comes to 
~a ready and expectant people. He receives assurance 



124 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

that this is true, or he could not work; and so, w T ith a. 
heart tilled with the power of the Holy Spirit, a church 
waiting and anxious to enter the work, he goes boldly 
forward. This very condition is in itself a force, and 
gives power and weight to every word, and makes its 
influence felt on all hearts. 

The settled pastor has not this vantage ground; for,, 
though he may be a skillful leader, an earnest worker, 
and a holy man, yet all his best efforts may be rendered 
useless, all his heart purposes thwarted, by the lack of 
co-operation- of those who, with him, are to reach the 
unsaved. Yet the church has no small responsibility, as. 
can be attested by Scriptural facts. This lack of sympa- 
thy and co-operation may, in some instances, be thought- 
less, but, nevertheless, it accomplishes, very many times,, 
the church's defeat, and leaves a responsibility upon it. 
which it would not readily assume. 

Oh, that there were those who, like Aaron and Hur,. 
might stay the hands of the minister of God, until vic- 
tory is achieved; that there w 7 ere more who, though the 
forms and measures might differ, though their ow T n par- 
ticular ideas w T ere not carried out, might yet realize the 
great object sought, and w r ork with true Christian fellow- 
ship and oneness of purpose to rescue and save undying 
souls! Then, not only would large harvests be gathered 
from evangelistic labor, but both pastor and evangelist 
might see that for w T hich all Christians pray — the salva- 
tion of many souls. 



CHAPTER XV. 

REVIVALS AT GIBSON CITY AND LEXINGTON, ILLINOIS. 

Revival at Gibson City— Church Crowded — Penitents at the Altar— The 
Sermon on the New Birth — Catholic Lady Saved — Without Invitation 
Penitents Come to the Altar — Stores Closed — Notice from Religious 
Telescope — A Thrilling Scene — Infidels Converted — Results of the 
Work — Revival at Lexington — Interesting- Meetings — From Lexing- 
ton Review — Number of Conversions. 

On the 3d of January, 1885, Mr. Little went to Gibson 
City, Illinois, to assist Rev. P. H. Wagner, pastor of the 
United Brethren church at that place, in revival work. 
The meeting began the day after his arrival. The open- 
ing sermon was preached by the writer. The evangelist 
preached in the evening to a large congregation from 
the text, "Where art thou?" The audience was deeply 
impressed, but, owing to the great crowd, no invitation 
was given to the altar. The evangelist announced that 
there would be afternoon meetings each day during the 
revival; these were conducted by the writer. 

Monday evening the weather was inclement, yet a 
large audience greeted the evangelist, and listened with 
deep interest to a sermon from the text, " Come unto 
me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give 
you rest." Already the church was aroused, and sinners 
convicted of sin. An invitation to the altar was given, 
and four presented themselves, two of whom were saved 

125 



126 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

that night. Others requested the prayers of Christians,, 
and the Spirit was evidently striving with many more. 
Tuesday afternoon, three requested prayers for them- 
selves, and before the close of the meeting two were 
happily converted. Tuesday night the house w T as again 
crowded, and many came to the altar for prayer. 

The people now thronged the church at every service. 
Wednesday evening the evangelist preached from the 
same text used on the previous evening, "Ye must be 
born again." He treated the subject negatively, say- 
ing he wished to tell them what regeneration is not. 
First, it is not church membership ; a man may have his 
name on a church record, and know nothing of the life 
and power of religion. Again, confirmation is not regen- 
eration; an individual may be catechized and confirmed, 
and not be born again. There must be a radical change 
in heart and life. He closed with a powerful appeal to 
the unsaved to seek the new birth. Again, many peni- 
tents came to the altar, and many more requested the 
prayers of the church. 

The crowds were now so large that the church would 
not accommodate them, and the meetings were continued 
in the Presbyterian church, the largest in the town. 
Thursday, this church was crowded, and many failed to 
gain admittance. This meeting was but another mani- 
testation of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and many 
sought the Lord. 

A Catholic lady, passing the church, was attracted by 
the singing. She paused, and heard floating out upon 
the air the words of the hymn, "Is my name written 
there?" The Spirit of the Lord fastened the words upon 
her, and she could not get away from the question; she 



GIBSON CITY, ILLINOIS. 



12T 



became powerfully convicted, and going to a Christian 
neighbor, asked her to pray for her. She at once began 
to call upon the Lord, and soon light broke in upon her 
soul, and she rejoiced over sins forgiven. She then came 
to the afternoon meeting, and said, " Oh, I never knew 
before that I was groping in such darkness and supersti- 
tion! Now I know my name is written there." 

Friday and Saturday nights, of those who were seek- 
ing Christ, ten were converted. One man was converted 
during the day, at his store, and he immediately began 
to go from place to place proclaiming what God had done 
for his soul. He wonld say, "I am saved; I have no 
doubt about it; I know it." 

Sabbath day was marked by deep feeling among Chris- 
tians, and earnest work. In the afternoon cottage prayer 
meetings were held in different parts of the town. In 
the evening the meeting began with a prayer and song 
service. While singing, "Are you coming home to- 
night?" — the hymn which was to precede the sermon — 
a young lady began to weep, and arose and kneeled at 
the altar. Id a moment another was by her side. The 
evangelist delivered a short and stirring exhortation, and 
gave an invitation to the altar. Others came forward, 
and five received the pardon of sins. The following is 
from the Enterprise, published at Gibson City, Illinois: 

"The union revival meeting, after another week of 
earnest work, has had encoura^ino; success. These meet- 
ings, as during the previous week, have been largely 
attended at both the afternoon and night services. The 
utmost fellowship prevails between the members of the 
co-operating churches; the interest in the services has 
not abated in the least. The marvelous boy evangelist 



128 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

has been steadily rising in the estimation of all the attend- 
ants, as his versatility and power have developed them- 
selves. Powerful in exhortation, and no less in preaching, 
exceedingly skillful in manipulating his forces, he has 
realized unexpected results. Men heretofore unaffected 
l^y religious influence, have boldly espoused the cause 
of Jesus, and whole families, irreligious prior to these 
meetings, have been saved, and still the work goes on." 

The interest of the meeting seemed now to absorb 
•every other interest. All over the town placards might 
be seen in the windows of business houses, stating that 
these places of business would be closed at 7:00 p. M., on 
account of the revival. Crowds came from all directions 
from the country round about, some walking a distance 
•of five miles to every service, and then walking back 
tigain. The following, by the pastor, appeared in the 
Religious Telescope: 

" The revival meetings begun at this place, January 4th, 
by Rev. George K. Little, the boy evangelist, have thus 
far been successful beyond the most sanguine expecta- 
tions. Coming when the state of religion was at a low 
'ebb, after the lull of the political campaign excitement, 
■God very graciously enabled him to promptly summon to 
his aid the religious forces of the co-operating churches. 
Soon it was that the inspiration for a revival work took 
possession of the minds and hearts of these Christians, 
and the work began to move forward in good earnest. 
And now, after nine days' work, aside from the refresh- 
ing which has come to the church, thirty-five have been 
blessedly saved. Among these are to be found those 
who were almost hopelessly addicted to the bowl, one 
Catholic, and quite a number of nominal members of the 



GIBSON CITY, ILLINOIS. 129 

churches, who either never had been saved or had wan- 
dered far into the mazes of sin. 

" But this is not the measure of the work done. Many 
others in the town and adjacent country, among all 
classes, are deeply convicted. These meetings and Chris- 
tianity are the talk of the town. The City Hall, often so 
embarrassing to our work, has been closed as a skating- 
rink and place of theatrical performances. The young 
people, instead of skating and dancing, are going to 
church; and many are becoming Christians. It may be 
safely said, the town is stirred, religiously, through and 
through. The Methodist church, which for weeks had 
been running an unsuccessful meeting, which they were 
about to close, received a new impulse from this re- 
vival, and are having some success. 

" The scope of the work done is also encouraging. 
While a good number of children have been converted, 
not a few young men and women and heads of families 
are saved. The conversions, too, are of that clear and 
positive character which gives such gracious assurance 
to all. As soon as saved, they go to work for the Master. 
Many church members heretofore in an uncertain state 
of mind, are coming out clearly, declaring, 'Now I know 
that I am a new creature.' 

" The work has grown into great proportions. It was 
begun under the auspices of the United Brethren society, 
with the Cumberland Presbyterian church co-operating. 
The services we.re at first all held in the United Brethren 
church. This soon became too small to hold the people, 
when the night services were moved to the commodious 
Cumberland Presbyterian church, which also, from the 
first night, proved to be too small. Many from night to 



130 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

night are turned away, being unable to get in. The af- 
ternoon meetings, too, are largely attended, the church 
being rilled at every gathering. 

"Brother Little is the very embodiment of the living 
energy of a true faith. Failure has no place in his calen- 
dar. God as a personal, present power and help, is to 
him the assurance of success. In the fullness of this- 
Divine, living personality he expects gracious results* 
How can it be otherwise? God must be true to himself 
and to his promises. This arrays Omnipotence against 
human weakness. The Divine energy must overcome 
human indifference. " 

At the close of one of the services, after making a. 
powerful appeal to the unconverted, Mr. Little said: "I 
am now going to draw the line between those who want 
to be saved and those w T ho do not. All who want to go- 
to heaven, please rise, and those who want to go to hell, 
keep your seats." This was said with great solemnity, 
and the entire audience, with the exception of a middle- 
aged man, seated in the body of the house, and two 
young men near the door, arose. Pointing his finger, 
and fixing his eyes upon the man in front of him who 
had kept his seat, with a great deal of emotion, he ex- 
claimed, "My God! there is a man who wants to go to 
hell!" In an instant, with a countenance pale as death, 
the man sprung to his feet. The effect was startling. 
Men who, until then, were indifferent, realized that heaven 
and hell were before them, and that their destiny w r as a 
matter of personal choice. The voice of God seemed to 
speak to their startled souls, " Choose ye this day whom 
ye will serve." Men who before had declared themselves 
infidels, came to their feet, convinced by the Spirit of 



LEXINGTON, ILLINOIS. 131 

God of the truth. Some of these were converted. One 
of them said, "I want to unite with the church immedi- 
ately; I want to do all I can to make amends for my 
former sins." 

During this revival, many whose names were upon 
church records, upon examination of their hearts, found 
that they were wholly destitute of the peace and joy of 
religion. They came to the altar, earnestly seeking 
Christ, and, emerging into the light, they would say, " I 
never knew before what it was to experience pardon." 
Others, who had been living in a cold and indifferent 
way, were led to a more entire consecration of themselves 
to God, and thence to a better and happier experience. 
The influence of this revival extended over all the town; 
meetings were held in other churches, and, as a result, 
one hundred and twenty-five souls entered upon the 
new life. 

LEXINGTON, ILLINOIS. 

In a few weeks after the close of the Gibson City, 
Illinois, revival, Mr. Little engaged in a meeting at 
Lexington, Illinois. The pastor, Rev. A. C. Scott, from 
time to time, by postal or letter, announced the progress 
of the work. In one of these he says: 

" Yesterday and last night, the fifth day and night of 
the meeting, were surely a grand day and night. Our 
large church house was nearly full of people at the after- 
noon service, and the whole house seemed to be filled 
with glory. Sinners wept, and saints shouted, and two 
were created anew in Christ. I have not seen such a 
display of God's power among the people for a long time. 
Last night the church was filled to its utmost capacity, 
and hundreds went away, unable to gain admittance." 



132 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

In another letter, lie says: 

"Monday, the 16th, we had a precious time at the af- 
ternoon service. God was with us in power. At night 
there was -the first great move outside of the church. 
Fourteen were at the nltar seeking Christ, and ten of 
that number were saved. After the altar exercises closed, 
eighteen raised their hands, asking the prayers of the 
church. Tuesday night nineteen were at the altar, and 
two were converted. All denominations are co-operating 
in these meetings." 

From the Lexington Review, we clip the following: 

"The revival meetings, of which we made mention last 
week, as being conducted at the United Brethren church 
by the wonderful boy evangelist, Rev. George K. Little, 
have continued through the week. The exceedingly cold 
weather and impediments to travel have not prevented 
the church from being crowded at every meeting. The 
religious feeling and fervor originating in these meetings 
have worked their way into almost every dwelling in the 
town. The ministers and members of the various 
churches in the town have entered into these meetings 
with a unity of thought and purpose that is commend- 
able. The result of this united effort is a most successful 
and glorious revival of religion in Lexington. Meetings 
are held every afternoon and evening at the church, con- 
ducted by Rev. Little, who is a marvelous w T orker. Aside 
from the meetings held at the church, there have been at 
least four meetings held every morning, for several days, 
at various dwellings in the town. Not for years has our 
community been so thoroughly and effectually awakened 
by religion. It appears that almost every one has felt 
the influence of these meetings. Many people who have 



133 

not been in the habit of attending religious services of 
any kind, have been regular attendants at these. Men, 
women, and children are being converted at every meet- 
ing, and, although the. meetings will not have run two 
weeks until to-morrow morning, the conversions number, 
at this writing (Friday), fifty-two. On Thursday even- 
ing there were twenty-six seekers at the altar. Rev. 
Little is an interesting speaker, a most zealous worker, 
and commands the closest attention from his audience." 
A later date of the same paper has the following: 
"The chief topic among the citizens of Lexington, 
and for miles around, is the glorious revival of religion, 
resulting from the meetings conducted by that remark- 
able worker, Rev. George K. Little, the boy evangelist. 
It is talked by everybody, at all times, in all places. The 
very air seems to be filled with it, and it affects every one 
within the town, whether they go to the meetings or not. 
It is upon the mind of every one, whether Christian or 
sinner, and great good is being done. The church is 
filled every night long before the hour of service, and 
many are turned away, unable to gain admission. 

" The work is not confined alone to the members of 
the United Brethren church, where the meetings are be- 
ing held, but is entered into by the pastors and members 
of all churches of the town. All are working together 
in harmony and with a will for the salvation of their 
fellow-men. A more united effort in behalf of God and 
Christianity was never known before in Lexington, and 
never one with such telling effect. The united and har- 
monious effort of these Christian men and women, under 
the generalship of Rev. Little, is producing wonderful 
results. 



134 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

"Thursday of this week was set apart as a 'Jubilee 
Day/ and services were held at all hours during the day 
and evening. The following is the programme observed 
on that day : 

"9:30 — Young Men's Prayer Meeting — Led by Mr. A. H. Scrogin. 

" 10:00 — Praise and Promise Meeting — Conducted by Rev. Little. 

" 11:00 — Jubilee Services — By Rev. H. S. Humes. 

" 12:00 to 1:00 — Hour of Prayer — Led by Mr. L. P. Scrogin. 

" 1:00 — Dinner. 

*' 1 -.30 — Love Feast. 

"3:00 — Sermon — By Rev. M. Bechtel, followed by revival sen-ices. 

"4:00 — Children's Meeting — Address by pastors of all churches. 

"5:00 — .Supper. 

"6:00 — Young People's Meeting. 

"7:00 — Revival Services. 

" The church was filled throughout the day, and in 
the evening there was a perfect jam. 

"The meetings have been running now for four weeks, 
and still the end is not in sight. It looks as if they will 
continue until all sinners of the town and country sur- 
rounding are thoroughly converted and enlisted in the 
active service of the Lord. 

" Two hundred and one souls had been converted up 
to yesterday, at these meetings, and the altar is crowded 
with sin-stricken seekers at every meeting. On Thursday 
evening there were forty-three seekers forward, twelve of 
whom were converted. Prayer meetings are held every 
morning at various residences throughout the town, and 
Christians of all church denominations are working with 
unremitting toil among all classes of people. The sing- 
ing at these meetings is complimented on every hand. 
The choir embraces many of our best local singers, led 
by Mrs. Little, wife of the evangelist, and is a grand 
factor in the success of the meetings. Mrs. Little is a 



LEXINGTON, ILLINOIS. 135 

very accomplished musician, and is of inestimable value 
to her husband in his evangelistic work. She possesses 
.a very sweet and highly cultivated voice, and her solos 
.are praised by all who have heard them. By her most 
excellent singing Mrs. Little is aiding in these meetings 
&s none other could." 

Over two hundred and fifty professed faith in Christ 
at this meeting. 

Rev. H. "W. Trueblood, presiding elder of the district, 
writes: "I have never seen such a grand work. The 
work is thorough, and, in years to come, people will date 
their conversion from the labors of Brother Little in this 
meeting." 

REMARKS. 

Aside from his labor for the conversion of souls, the 
>evangelist makes special effort to arouse Christians to a 
sense of their duty toward God and his cause, and to 
their fellow -men. We have before stated that at many 
revivals the church has been stimulated to new life. For 
this the evangelist labors. He is very plain in his preach- 
ing to the church, and says distinctly that a Christian 
ean make no compromise with sin; that conformity to 
the world, enmity in the heart one toward another, 
eovetousness, or any such thing, can not be approved by 
God; and that if any regard iniquity in their hearts, the 
Lord will not hear them. Thus he urges all to a perfect 
walk before God. 

Again he tries to impress upon all Christians the duty 
of helping to build up God's church, and of watching at 
all times over the interests of Christ's kingdom. Many, 
when once inside the pale of the church, sit down at 
ease, and fall asleep as it were at their posts; immersed 



136 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

in business, or grasping after the wealth or pleasures of 
the world, they grow careless as to their own spiritual 
interests, and alike indifferent to the interest of Christ 
and his cause. Somehow, they fancy, the church will 
go on and prosper, and carry them with it; and they 
assign to the minister of God the whole duty of watch- 
ing over and caring for Zion. While the pastor has his 
part to do, which is an important part, yet each Chris- 
tian has his own work to do, which he may not leave 
undone. The church ceases to prosper when its indi- 
vidual members grow careless and indifferent to its suc- 
cess, and leave to others duties which should have been 
done by themselves; and the spiritual light of a soul 
grows dim when that soul ceases to watch with unceas- 
ing care against the enemies which surround it. How 
often, as we have read the story of the sleeping disciples 
in the garden, have we been shocked at their indiffer- 
ence at such a time. While Christ lights the battle 
wmich decides man's destiny, man, the interested party? 
falls asleep. In the words of the poet: 

"We say, or think, if we had gone 
Thither, instead of Peter, James, and John — 
And Christ had left us on the outpost dim, 
As sentinels, to watch with him; 

"We would have sooner died, than sleep 
The little time we vigil had to keep; 
Then wake, to feel his torturing question's power, 
' Could ye not watch with me one hour ? ' 

"What do we now, to make our word 
Seem no vain boast of love to Christ our Lord? 
We can not take the chidden sleeper's place, 
And shun, by proof, his deep disgrace! 

"Yet are there midnights dark and dread, 
When Jesus still by traitors is betrayed; 



LEXINGTON, ILLINOIS. 137 

Our bosom-sin's the lurking- foe at hand, 
And ' "Watch with me ' is Christ's command. 

"One little hour of sleepless care, 
And sin could wrest no victory from us there; 
But, with the fame of our loved Lord to keep, 
Like those we scorn, we fall asleep. 

"On Peter, James, and John, no more 
The wrong reproach of hasty pride we pour; 
But feel within the question's torturing power, 
' Could ye not watch with me one hour?'" 

Now, as then, rnauy have forgotten duty and have 
ceased to watch; and so God's cause languishes, and 
their own souls are being drifted further and further 
away from light and hope. If Christ should come sud- 
denly, he would find they too were sleeping. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

OTHER MEETINGS. 

Revival at Westfield, Illinois — Report from Westfield Pantagraph — Re- 
sult of Meeting — Revival at Kingman, Kansas — Report from Relig- 
ious Telescope — From Kingman Leader — Number of Conversions — 
Sterling Revival — Revival at Salina — Extract from Opening Sermon 
— Number of Conversions — Meeting at Russell — Evangelist in Wis- 
consin. 

In August, 1885, Mr. Little held a meeting at West- 
Held, Illinois. When the pastor, Rev. T. D. Spyker, had 
secured his services and made the necessary arrange- 
ments, and the probable cost of the meeting became 
known, there was considerable difference of opinion, 
some predicting a failure as the result; and when the 
evangelist arrived and began work, many at first objected 
to his methods, but these objections were largely removed 
by his subsequent success. The evangelist paid no atten- 
tion to criticism, but worked on in his own way. One 
man was very pronounced in his opposition to the work; 
but before the close, his daughter was happily converted, 
and then his feelings were changed, as she died in a few 
months in the triumphs of faith. The meetings grew in 
interest from the first, and conversions occurred at nearly 
every service. The following is from the Westfield Pan- 
tagraph : 

"Rev. G. K. Little, the boy evangelist, and his wife are 

138 



KINGMAN, KANSAS. 139 

now with us in the Spirit of the Divine Master. They 
liave held three services in the college chapel, and each 
time the large audience room has been about filled. The 
most profound attention is given, and the very best of 
order is observed. There was a deep feeling of solem- 
nity pervading the whole assembly. If there is any 
secret in the wonderful success which has attended his 
efforts in the past — and there is — it is in his constant 
communion and fellowship with God in prayer; for it is 
said, " The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him." 
His style and manner of work are natural and easy, adopt- 
ing the means and using the instrumentalities which the 
Holy Spirit dictates to his mind during the progress of 
■each service. His wife is a pious, Christian lady, and a 
helpmeet in the true sense of the word in carrying for- 
ward these meetings. They are unassuming, and conse- 
crated to the work of saving souls. They will be glad 
to meet any one who may wish to inquire of them with 
reference to their personal salvation, and ask any such to 
<3all at their rooms." 

The pastor, in summing up the work, says: "There 
"were in all sixty-five conversions. Many of them are 
still faithful. Some submitted to the force of tempta- 
tion, and have gone back. Others, since tken, have died 
in great peace. The evangelist is still spoken of with 
pleasure, and many of our children still sing, with others, 
Brother Little's songs." 

KINGMAN, KANSAS. 

In response to an invitation from the ministers of the 
Arkansas Valley Conference, Mr. Little labored for some 
months in Kansas. The first meeting was held at King- 



140 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

man, Kansas. Of this meeting, a correspondent of the 
Religious Telescope writes: 

"The union gospel meetings, under the supervision of 
Rev. George K. Little, have been in progress a trifle over 
two weeks. The church dedicated by Bishop Kephart at 
this place on the 8th ult., though the largest in the city, 
and though the people of Kingman have not been noted 
for church-going, was found entirely too small to afford 
even standing room to the multitudes that assembled 
nightly upon the ministry of the w T ord. The opera hall 
has now been secured, and union meetings of all the or- 
thodox denominations, under the special control of Mr.. 
Little, he doing all the preaching, are now being held 
nightly, with most gracious results. At the last evening 
meeting nearly the whole congregation remained for in- 
quiry service. Twenty-five souls professed saving faith 
long before the exercises closed. A young man who was. 
converted during the evening, was asked on the following' 
day, if Mr. Little had anxious-seat exercises. He said in 
reply, that there were ' anxious-seat exercises ' through- 
out the whole house. This was verily the fact; for a& 
soon as Mr. Little stepped down from the rostrum on 
closing his sermon, a little girl, who had been converted 
a few evenings previously, came to him and requested 
that he come back in the immense audience to a young 
lady who was anxious" to find the Savior. The moment 
Mr. Little began to offer prayer for this penitent one, 
thirsting for the bread of life^holy fire descended over 
the whole audience, and some who not a moment before 
were scoffing were now on their knees and crying for 
mercy; and in a moment the scene became awfully 
grand and glorious beyond all description. The rush of 



STERLING, KANSAS. 141 

arms upon this spiritual battle-field was wonderful, and 
many were the slain, and more were the wounded. But 
while the mighty Conqueror came to subdue, he came 
also to lift up; while he came to slay, he came also to 
make alive; and while there came a moment of sadness, 
there is now a day of great rejoicing. Many, we think, 
through all time, and endless eternity as well, will look 
back to this meeting and exclaim in song, ' happy day, 
that fixed my choice,' etc. 

" We are expecting great results from these meetings 
of Mr. and Mrs. Little at Kingman. Already a deep re- 
ligious feeling is pervading ail parts of the city, and God 
is not only blessing the preaching of the word, making 
it the power of God unto salvation, but he is also, in a 
wonderful manner, blessing the singing of Mrs. Little, 
which has a magic power upon the audiences." 

We also have the following from the Kingman Leader: 

"The union gospel meetings, under the labors and 
supervision of Mr. George K. Little, the evangelist, have 
been removed to the opera house for want of room at 
the churches. The opera house is crowded until there is 
no more standing room, nightly. The night of the third 
instant, there were thirteen conversions reported to me, 
and on Monday night, of the number of those whose 
names were obtained, there were twenty-five who pro- 
fessed faith in the world's Redeemer." 

This meeting continued for several weeks, and resulted 
in the conversion of one hundred and fifty souls. 

STERLING, KANSAS. 

The evangelist went from Kingman to Sterling, Kansas, 
and held a series of meetings, which are reported in the 

Religious Telescope as follows: 



142 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

"On the 27th of January, 1886, Brother and Sister 
Little, our evangelists, began a series of meetings here. 
The interest was good from the first. In a few evenings 
the church proved too small to hold the people. The 
Methodist Episcopal church was then offered us. The of- 
fer was accepted; but it soon proved too small, and the 
meetings were transferred to the rink, the largest room in 
the town, which cost six dollars a night. The expenses 
were more than met by public collection. Just at this 
time we were visited by a terrible blizzard. The third 
week of the meeting we went back to the churches. The 
interest continued good, with conversions every night. 
Several Catholics were among the converts. After three 
weeks the evangelists left us, with from sixty to seventy 
converts. The. meeting was a union one. All the churches 
will share in the ingathering." 

M'PHERSON AND LYONS, KANSAS. 

At the close of the meeting at Sterling, the evangelist 
held meetings at McPherson and at Lyons, Kansas. At 
the former place there were fifty conversions, and at the 
latter, between thirty and forty. 

SALINA, KANSAS. 

About the first of March, in response to a call from 
the Ministerial Association of Salina, Kansas, the evan- 
gelist came to that place and held a meeting. This was 
a, union meeting, all the ministers of the town entering 
heartily into the work. 

As an introduction to this revival, Rev. W. A. Simkins, 
pastor of the Presbyterian church of that city, preached 
an able sermon. His theme was, "Is Christianity de- 
clining in the world?" — text, Luke 18: 8. He treated 



SALINA, KANSAS. 143 

the subject in a masterly way, and after bringing forward 
an array of facts sufficient to prove the negative of the 
theme, he closed as follows: 

" It is a mistake to say that the men of high culture 
now as a class are turning against the gospel, or that the 
gospel is losing its hold upon the highest intellect of the 
age. It is easy enough for a few leading authors and 
essayists and scientific lecturers, who have gained the 
public ear, to make the temporary impression that they 
have the advanced learning of the times, and that the 
world is rapidly, under their influence, outgrowing the 
trammels of the Bible and the Cross. They may think 
themselves so fully in the lead, as to be incapable of see- 
ing that the world is not following them. This, we take 
it, is the exact position of this class of the so-called ad- 
vanced thinkers. 

" Before the century is ended, however, they may wake 
up to the truth, that the great thinking world has not 
been following them, but going back to the old, estab- 
lished ground of Christianity. No doubt there are many 
persons in our present educated circles, especially among 
the young men, who, under the specious reasoning of 
the popular lecturer and the skeptical press and semi- 
scientific books, have had their faith so shaken in the 
old Bible, and in all evangelical religion, that they are 
now wandering in untried and dangerous paths of specu- 
lation, instead of regularly attending the Christian sanc- 
tuary. But while this is going on in some educated 
circles, there are other educated circles, still more numer- 
ous, where scores of the most gifted and most cultivated 
intellects of the age have been led to examine afresh for 
themselves the evidences of Christianity, and have been 



144 G. K. LITTLE AND UIS REVIVAL WORK. 

able not only to hold firm their belief in the truth as it 
is in Jesus, but to come forth from the conflict of doubt, 
more firmly established than ever that Jesus is the Rock 
of Ages. 

"Our young men will make a huge mistake if they 
suppose that the best science and culture of the age is 
anti-Christian; or that all the deepest thinkers and most 
profound scholars are found in the ranks of those who 
oppose the Bible. Shallow men often make much noise, 
and call it culture. The deep currents of thought and 
philosophy, however, still flow with Christianity. It you 
were asked to mention the two most gigantic intellects 
among living men, as well as the two exerting the most 
mighty influence upon the destiny of nations and the 
world to-day, you would not hesitate a moment to speak 
the two names, Gladstone and Bismarck. Certainly, all 
will admit that Gladstone, in particular, stands in the 
very front rank of educated men, of the most profound 
scholars and thinkers of the day. Dr. Theodore L. 
Cuyler, in his address to the students of Yale College, 
on the day of prayer for colleges (two weeks ago last 
Thursday), said : < To my personal knowledge, the greatest 
man in modern Germany is a Christian; and Gladstone, 
perhaps the most powerful intellect of modern times, 
stands side by side with Bismarck in this respect. With 
my own eyes I have seen Mr. Gladstone kneeling by the 
side of a common street-sweeper, and pouring forth his 
eloquent appeal to God in behalf of his humble brother.' 

"Oh! Christian friends, that is what we want here in 
Salina — the spirit of the great Gladstone, which is the 
spirit of the greater Christ seeking to save the lost, in- 
fused into the heart of every Christian of this place, 



SAUNA, KANSAS. 145 

causing us each to put forth direct, personal effort and 
prayer to save the lost souls all around us, the humblest, 
as well as the highest, in social rank. Then shall we 
have that genuine revival of religion -so devoutly to he 
wished, elevating the piety and character of professed 
Christians, and gathering in lost wanderers — your way- 
ward boys, your thoughtless girls, your unsaved hus- 
bands, the Christless business men of our city. Such 
revivals, such displays of Divine grace, are taking place 
all over our land. Shall we not have one? The Religious 
Telescope, at Dayton, Ohio, reported, two weeks ago, a 
thousand additions to the Church of the United Brethren 
throughout the land, and about as many the next week, 
from reports sent in from various parts of the land. In 
"Watkins, N"ew York, fifty-one accessions to the Pres- 
byterian Church are reported; one hundred and six at 
Towanda, Pennsylvania, and five hundred and eighty 
names have been put on the ' Converts' Poll' of Dr. 
Pierson's church of Philadelphia. Extensive revivals 
are reported in the Southern Presbyterian churches in 
Monroe County, West Virginia. 

"These are but examples of what are taking place. 
Shall we not also have a revival in Salina? Jesus of 
[Nazareth is certainly passing by, coming very near us. 
Shall we not beseech him, as the widow did the unjust 
judge; and all the more because he is not an unjust judge, 
but an all-merciful, willing Savior, to avenge us of our 
wicked adversary, who is beguiling so many of our loving 
ones away from making their peace with God through 
Christ and finding a home in heaven? 

"Feeling the need of such a revival — a revival that 
shall reach the whole community, our city ministerial 



146 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

association have secured the Rev. George K. Little, of 
Baltimore, known as the ' Boy Preacher,' who preaches 
the simple gospel of hope to lost sinners with great ear- 
nestness and success, and his wife, who is a very sweet 
singer, singing with tender and telling effect the same 
simple gospel her husband so earnestly preaches. Our 
acquaintance w T ith Rev. Little, from the manner in which 
it was brought about, we believe is clearly providential, 
and in his coming to Salina we think w r e can see the 
leading of God's providential hand. He is expected to 
be here about March 8th. 

"But Rev. Little's coming can not alone bring the 
needed revival; although his coming, with our united 
co-operation and prayers, with God's blessing, will. 
There is work for all of us, and there is special work for 
each — work which I can not do in a crowd, or as one of 
a mass, but as one man, acting singly according to my 
own gifts and under a sense of personal responsibility. 
The same is true of every Christian in Salina. There is, 
no doubt, associated work for me to do in combination 
with you, Christian friends and others; but you and I 
have also, besides this, each a special individual work to 
do; just as Gladstone found time and opportunity — or 
rather took them amid all the weight of a mighty na- 
tion's complicated affairs, cares, and interests resting 
upon his shoulders — to kneel down by the side of a sin- 
gle brother-man, though the humblest — only a street- 
sweeper, and pray for the salvation of his soul. 

" May that time and place for answered prayer be here 
and now, in this special religious undertaking immedi- 
ately before us, which it seems as if God's providence 
had arranged, and in which He asks us to co-operate. 



SALINA, KANSAS. 147 

God grant that this may be the time and place when 
such a revival from on high shall be poured out upon us, 
that there shall not be left a prayerless house or soul in 
Salina, and to his great name we will give all the glory 
forever. Amen." 

The work at Salina, in view of the fact that there was 
hearty co-operation, was interesting from the start. From 
the Abilene Gazette of March 10th, we have the following: 

" The evangelistic services, conducted by the Rev. G. K. 
Little and wife, are being continued in the English Lu- 
theran church this week. At the meeting last night, about 
twenty arose for prnyers. The indications are that the 
meeting will be attended with much success. All of the 
city ministers attend, thereby making it a union effort." 

On March 25th it says: 

"Yesterday evening union services were held in the 
Baptist church and the Lutheran. Both houses were 
crowded, and the attention was marked and earnest. 
At the former house Eevs. Simkins and Lyons, and Mrs. 
Little, conducted the exercises. Mrs. Little sang several 
solos. She sang in such an effective way as to bring 
tears to many eyes, and move the large audience to the 
most intense silence and attention. Rev. Lyons made 
some earnest deductions from the parable of the rich 
man, who thought he had much goods for many years, 
but whose soul was required of him before he could en- 
joy his wealth. Rev. Simkins made an earnest appeal 
to all men everywhere to repent, and especially those 
who were advanced in years, and whose minds were ab- 
sorbed in the business affairs of life. 

" At the Lutheran church the Rev. Little conducted the 
services in his usual earnest and interesting manner." 



148 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

From a still later date we quote: 

"Last night was the last but one of the Rev. Mr. 
Little's evangelistic labors in the city. A large crowd 
of people were again in attendance at the Lutheran 
church. The general interest seems to have changed 
but little, and, doubtless, the wave of feeling in form of 
religious revivals will still go on. Quite a number have 
been converted during the progress of the meeting, and 
it is to be hoped that they may all hold on to their pro- 
fession of faith, and bring no reproach by their conduct 
upon the great cause of Christianity. This evening Mr. 
Little will conduct the services for the last time of this 
series of meetings, and his presence and work here de- 
monstrate the fact that sectarian bias and feelings can 
be laid aside for the good of the religious world. Chris- 
tian harmony and unity disarm criticism, and demon- 
strate conclusively that religion has a harmonizing and 
peaceful influence upon society." 

This meeting resulted in great good. Christians of 
all denominations were more closely united, and there 
were between seventy and one hundred accessions to the 
churches. 

RUSSELL, KANSAS. 

From Salina the evangelist went to Russell. The 
services at this place were held in the Congregational 
church. Deep feeling prevailed from the first, and at 
the close of the first service a number arose for prayers. 

Miss Emma E. Hoover, in writing of this meeting, 
says : 

" Rev. G. K. Little and w r ife came to Russell, Kansas, 
March 24, 1886. They had been holding a successful 
meeting at Salina, and, closing on Tuesday evening, 



RUSSELL, KANSAS. 149 

came to Russell. After resting a day, and making the 
necessary arrangements, they began the meeting Thurs- 
day evening. The Congregationalists kindly granted 
us the use of their church for the meeting, it being the 
largest in the town. 

"On Sabbath morning. Elder J. S. Howard preached, 
and administered the Lord's Supper, it being his quar- 
terly appointment at this place. 

" In the evening, Mr. Little preached one of his pow- 
erful and soul-stirring sermons. Many, no doubt, came 
only from curiosity, but as the great truths of the gospel 
were brought to bear upon the minds and hearts of the 
people, a deep feeling and spirit of conviction seemed to 
pervade the entire audience, and as one after another 
of the brethren and Christian workers gave their expe- 
riences and testimonies for Christ, many were moved to 
tears, and a number arose for prayers, desiring to lead a 
better life. 

"The weather during the second week was very un- 
favorable, but a deep interest was manifested in every 
service, and there were conversions every night. Among 
the number was one who had always been a very pro- 
fane man, and took every opportunity to ridicule and 
scoff at religion. But conviction seized upon him; God 
changed his heart, and he became one of the most earnest 
workers in the meeting. 

" The song service of Mrs. Little was appreciated by 
all, and had much to do in moving the hearts of the peo- 
ple. The meeting continued a little over three weeks, 
and resulted in about thirty conversions, with twenty- 
five accessions to the church. 

"The brethren who, with their faithful pastor, Rev. 



150 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

P. M. Herrick, had labored hard to build up a good 
society in this growing Western town, felt very much 
encouraged, and at once started a subscription for a new 
church. In a short time three thousand dollars were 
secured, and work was be^un at once toward building. 
"The attendance at prayer meeting, Sabbath-school, 
and all the services, has been very much increased, and 
a greater interest taken in all church work. Indeed, the 
good done can not be fully estimated; deep and lasting 
impressions were made upon the hearts of the people, 
and the influence of the work will go on." 

WISCONSIN. 

Mr. Little, after a few months' rest from his labors in 
Kansas, went to Wisconsin, where, by the urgent request 
of the ministers of that Conference, he will labor for 
some months to come. He went first to Lima, and from 
there to Otterbein Church. These meetings resulted in 
the conversion of about one hundred souls. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

LETTERS. 

letter from Rossville, Illinois — From Presiding Elder of Central Illinois 
Conference — From Pastors at Lexington — Letter from Former Pastor 
at Indianapolis — From Salina, Kansas. 

The folio win 2r letters were received from different 
places in which the evangelist had held revival meetings, 
in reference to his work. 

Rev. J. Ingram, of Rossville, Illinois, writes as fol- 
lows : 

" In the meeting held by Rev. G. K. Little, at Ross- 
ville, I and my people, heartily and in good faith, joined, 
and did all we could for the salvation of the people. My 
church, pastor and all, were greatly blessed and spiritu- 
ally quickened. The best fraternal Christian spirit ex- 
isted all through the meeting, which lasted, if my memory 
is not at fault, some four weeks. Personally, I learned 
to love Brother Little for his sweet Christian spirit; for 
he certainly manifested this in a high degree. Though 
a Methodist, and a warm admirer of my own church, its 
doctrines, methods, and all, I admire and love a Chris- 
tian man wherever I find him; and such Brother Little 
proved himself to be. 

" In both his preaching and the methods used, Brother 
Little was thoroughly Scriptural and evangelical. He 

151 



152 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

preached the plain old doctrines of salvation, repentance 
toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; both 
the law and the gospel, the nature and penalty of sin,, 
and the sufficiency of the atonement to save from its 
guilt and power. His methods were those of the fathers 
of the church, namely, the sermon, exhortation, soul- 
stirring hymns, personal work in the congregation, with 
a heart full of love for sinners, the altar surrounded by a, 
singing, praying, believing church. The great source 
of his success is his mighty faith in God, and a Divine 
anointing of the Holy Ghost. Evangelists are recog- 
nized and have their place in the Scriptures, and caution 
is needed by the church in regard to their office and work,, 
that extremes on either side may not be indulged in. In 
my opinion, Brother Harrison in the Methodist Church,, 
and Brother Little in the United Brethren Church, are 
both called to the work of evangelists. With Brother 
Little, as with Moody and Harrison, in addition to his 
mighty faith in God, there is an intense earnestness for 
the salvation of sinners. These elements — a Divine 
anointing, faith in God, earnestness for men's souls — 
will make either a pastor or evangelist successful in the 
Master's work. "J. Ingram, 

" Pastor of Methodist Episcopal Church. 

"Rossville, Illinois." 

The Presiding Elder of Central Illinois Conference of 
the United Brethren in Christ, says: 

"Rev. G. K. Little's work on my district resulted in 
great good. He held revival services at two points, Gib- 
son City and Lexington. His work gave entire satisfac- 
tion. I have w T orked with different evangelists, but never 
with any whose w r ork w T as as thorough as Mr. Little's. 



LETTERS. 153 

He would insist on genuine conversions. The meeting 
at Lexington was wonderful. I never have known a 
town and community so aroused as Lexington and the 
surrounding country. 

"Any people would do well to secure the labors of 
Brother and Sister Little. u ^ ^ Trueblood? 

"Presiding Elder, Lexington District, 

" Central Illinois Conference" 

The following is from the pastors of Lexington : 
"Rev. G. K. Little, the evangelist, has conducted a 
series of revival services at Lexington, Illinois, for the 
period of five weeks preceding this date, and as a result 
of his labors, under God, our respective churches have 
been greatly blessed and strengthened, and over two 
hundred and fifty souls have professed to have been con- 
verted and saved. And we, the pastors of the different 
churches in Lexington, do hereby cheerfully recommend 
Brother and Sister Little to all Christians, wherever they 

ma yS°* "Rev. A. C. Scott, 

"Pastor of United Brethren Church. 
"Rev. II. S. Humes, 
"Pastor of Methodist Episcopal Church. 
"Rev. R. Conover, 
"Pastor of Presbyterian Church. 
"Rev. J. S. Farward, 
"Pastor of Baptist Church. 

"March 16, 1885." 

The former pastor of Indianapolis church writes : 
"I have known the evangelist, George K. Little, for 
four years. At my solicitation he came west to hold re- 
vival services for Rev. W. E. Bay, at the city of Lima> 



154 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

Ohio, where we first met in person. This meeting lasted 
two or three weeks, resulting in many conversions and 
accessions to the church; also, in the erection of our 
present commodious church edifice, which we occupy as 
a, denomination. 

"At the close of the Lima revival, Mr. Little came 
to my house at Elida, Ohio, to enjoy a few days' rest. 
While resting, he conducted a few services at my church, 
which amounted to quite a revival. The following win- 
ter he again returned to Elida, and held a series of meet- 
ings, which stirred the entire community, resulting in 
the salvation of many, and a great ingathering to the 
church. 

"One year later, being then in charge of the First 
United Brethren Church at Indianapolis, I again secured 
his services, and for more than six weeks he held on with 
unabated interest. This w T as the most powerful revival 
I have ever witnessed. Before he w r as with us a week, 
we could not accommodate one half of the people press- 
ing to hear him. As an evidence of his power to draw, 
we held two services in the Grand Opera House, which 
seats three thousand people. This was flooded, and 
Pennsylvania Street, on which it stands, was literally 
packed with persons trying to gain admittance. The 
proprietor said to me the next day, 'I have had the best 
actors of Europe and America, but the boy preacher 
draws the largest crowd we have ever had here.' 

" This meeting was deep and far-reaching in its work. 
He had not been with us long until calls began to pour 
in from the most popular churches of the city. Mr. 
Little chose to remain at our little church, until, at my 
suggestion, he accepted a call to Grace Methodist Epis- 



LETTERS. 155 

copal Church, Rev. L. A. Bright pastor. With this 
congregation he had two hundred conversions, making 
between five and six hundred during his stay at Indian- 
apolis. Although he is quite a preacher, he does not de- 
pend on his preaching for success. His skill in manipu- 
lating a meeting, so as to enlist all the forces, has more 
to do with his success. He has a perfect trust in God, 
and the darkest hours of a meeting are nothing to him. 
He turns it invariably into success. He is an indefati- 
gable worker in a meeting, and very careful in his social 
conduct in life. In all the sixteen weeks or more that 
he was in my home, he was most exemplary in his social 
and Christian life. „ p B WlLLIAMS .» 

The following is a pastor's letter from Salina, Kansas: 
" The Rev. G. K. Little, the evangelist, in response to 
an invitation of the Salina Ministerial Association, began 
a series of union gospel meetings in this city, March 4th. 
Although the first week was very rainy, and the street- 
crossings so deep with mud as to make passing very dis- 
agreeable and difficult, still there was a good attendance 
from the very first night, and when the weather became 
better, the large Lutheran church was crowded every 
night with attentive and serious hearers. On the first 
night several arose for prayers, and on the third night 
the inquiry room was opened and sixteen responded. 

"From that time on through the remainder of his 
three weeks' stay here, there were from five to ten ad- 
ditional ones in the inquiry room. Brother Little's 
preaching was simple, plain, gospel appeals, and offers 
of salvation to lost sinners, through the atoning merit of 
a crucified and risen Savior. His very earnestness and 



156 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

evident sincerity make liis appeals reach even the care- 
less and thoughtless, and in the inquiry room he is very 
effective. Mrs. Little, as a singer, giving her sweet voice 
to the Lord in many touching songs, was a great help 
and attraction in these gospel meetings. 

" The results, so far as now visihle, will be between 
seventy-five and one hundred additions to our churches, 
and, more important still, a genuine revival and awaken- 
ing among the idle, worldly church members, of which 
there w T ere so many in all our churches in Salina. 

"During over twelve years pastorate here, I have never 
seen so much consecration and activity in personal Chris- 
tian work as is now manifested. The outcome can not 
but be the upbuilding of our churches in Christian 
graces, and a constant ingathering of souls. So may it 
be, and to God we w T ill give all the glory. 

"W. A. SlMKINS, 

" Pastor of Presbyterian Church. 

"Salina, Kansas." 



CHAPTER XYIII. 

CHARACTER AND RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. 

Character — Religious Experience — Desire for a Pure Heart — At Clear 
Dake — The Sermon by Rev. William McDonald — Consecration to God 
— Temptations — Final Victory. 

Mr. Little is a man of great earnestness of purpose, 
fearless in denunciation of wrong-doing, and firm in ad- 
herence to the right. He is jet humble in mind and 
forgiving in disposition, not allowing himself to be dis- 
turbed by criticism or unjust censure. He is noted for 
his liberality to God's cause, keeping a strict account of 
income and giving one tenth as dues to the Lord. In 
this, thank offerings are not included. He is a United 
Brethren, in full sympathy with the doctrines and usages 
of the Church, yet has great catholicity of spirit, and 
rejoices in the prosperity of all denominations. 

Mr. Little has been in evangelistic work six years. 
He is a firm believer in the doctrine of sanctification, and 
urges upon all the duty of entire consecration to God. 

The following is an account of his experience as it ap- 
peared in the Highway of Holiness, of which he has now 
become editor: 

" 'Where shall my wandering soul begin? 

How shall I all to heaven aspire? 
A slave redeemed from death and sin, 

A brand plucked from eternal fire, — 
How shall I equal triumphs raise, 

Or sing my great Redeemer's praise?' 

157 



158 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

"God has lately given me a wonderful experience. 
Ever since my conversion I have had a burning desire to 
he a 'good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.' 
I have again and again been convicted of my need of a 
pure heart. I was conscious of indwelling depravity, 
roots of bitterness; and, oh! what a conflict has been my 
Christian life, a conflict to suppress sudden impulses and 
passions of my nature. My experience has been some- 
thing like the Southern negro song, ' Sometimes up and 
sometimes down;' oftener down than up. I would, in 
times of deep hungering and thirsting for perfect love, 
consecrate myself to God, and receive a blessing. Then 
I would wonder if I had not been sanctified. It was 
always a wonder! In July, I attended the Xational Holi- 
ness Camp-Meeting, at Clear Lake, Iowa. "We arrived 
on Saturday evening. Sunday morning Rev. William 
McDonald, President of the National Holiness Associa- 
tion, preached a heart-searching sermon. I shall never 
forget it. His subject was justification and sanctifica- 
tion. After listening to this sermon, I hardly knew 
where I was. Oh, how I groaned for a pure heart! I 
cried to Jesus for help. I prayed, 'Oh, God, help me; 
oh, Jesus, teach me!' I no sooner began to seek the 
blessing of holiness than my pride rose up in rebellion. 
'How could I, who had been preaching to others, get 
in the straw and seek the blessing of holiness?' I tell 
you, it was a struggle. I felt it was a life or death 
struggle to my soul. It was victory or defeat. It was a 
more perfect walk with God, and power to lead souls to 
Jesus, or spiritual death, and failure in soul-saving. Dr. 
Watson, in his book, ' Coals of Fire,' referring to this, 
says: 



RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. 159 

"'Here is a poor sinner, burdened with the debt of 
death-penalty. He flies to Christ and is "justified freely 
by his death." Jesus not only forgives his debt, but re- 
ceives him into his royal family, and bestows upon him 
manifold gifts and graces according to his measure. 
There are bestowed upon him the graces of the Holy 
Spirit, various gifts for usefulness. And in the years of 
his first love to his Master, he exercises himself in prayer, 
song, exhortation, testimony, benevolence, Christian visi- 
tation, spiritual reading, or it may be in preaching, re- 
vival work, writing books or tracts, until he is quite well 
to do in his spiritual estate. But sooner or later God 
brings around to his soul the "year of Jubilee." In 
some way he must face the question of entire sanctifica- 
tion. It may be some great calamity comes upon him, 
loss of wealth, or loss of friends, or loss of health, or 
strange or extreme temptations; or it may be during 
a revival, or at a camp-meeting, or through reading a 
book; in some form or other, the question of complete 
devotion to God, of entire crucifixion of self, is brought 
right before him. He can not shun the issue, he can no 
longer live along on the same plane he has been living; 
he is absolutely compelled to get closer to Christ, or fur- 
ther away, to take higher or lower grounds in religion. 

" ' If they neglect the experience of entire holiness, or 
pass it lightly by, or think they can serve God without 
making a specialty of holiness, they inevitably begin to 
lose from that day; their spiritual gifts begin to fade 
away, their graces begin to dry up; they may escape the 
death-penalty, but they are reduced to great poverty in 
spiritual things. What multitudes of ministers that 
were full of gifts and zeal, and begot many souls in the 



160 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

gospel, have had to face the question of entire sanctifica- 
tion, and thinking they could get along without it, have 
from that very time gone into moral poverty, both in 
their own experience and in their labors, preaching the 
same old sermons without their early fire. The fervor has 
left their prayers, the pathos has left their voice, the light 
has left their religious perceptions, they have become 
dull and uninteresting, many of them laid on ecclesias- 
tical shelves; the gifts have retired to the hand that gave 
them. How many family altars have been silenced, how 
many voices have ceased to sing, how many who once 
testified in social meetings testify no longer, how many 
active and soul-saving Christians have become barren; 
all the result of refusing to choose a closer walk with 
God.' 

" My soul trembled. What shall I do? It was future 
success or failure. It was a closer w T alk with God, and a 
glorious privilege to become a fire-brand of the Holy 
Ghost and lead multitudes to the dear Savior, or become 
unfruitful and barren. The spirit of Jesus was mightily 
convicting me, and drawing me toward entire sanctifica- 
tion. To resist or postpone I knew might bring me 
spiritual death. After the morning service, I, with my 
wife, w T ent to our room and knelt before God, and, as 
deliberately as ever I did a thing in my life, consecrated, 
unconditionally, once for all, myself a 'living sacrifice 
to God.' A calmness and peace filled my soul, w r hich 
continued for some hours, when all hell seemed to be let 
loose to tempt my soul. Never in my life did I have such 
temptations, and never in my life did I have such concep- 
tions of my own sinfulness and evil heart. The conflict 
at times was awful. I continued to read my Bible, holi- 



RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. 161 

ness books, and the experiences of others, and to seek the 
blessing of a clean heart for three weeks. One afternoon, 
alone in my study, praying and meditating, the impres- 
sion came to my mind to pray and believe and I would 
be blessed. I called Mrs. Little into the study, and to- 
gether we knelt before God. I began to pray; how long 
I prayed, I do not know. Oh, how sweetly I was led out 
in prayer! I came to that point where I could say, 4 I 
do trust ! I do trust ! ! I do trust in Jesus' blood to cleanse 
me from all unrighteousness ! ! ! ' I could say, 

" ' 'Tis done — the great transaction's done; 
I am my Lord's, and he is mine.' 

u Then a holy calmness pervaded my soul. A sweet 
love filled my heart. A flood of peace rushed through 
the recesses of my soul. Glory to Jesus! I am sweetly 
saved; sweetly saved and sweetly kept — 'Kept by the 
power of God.' Since that blessed hour I find, 

" 'My life flows on in endless song, 
Above life's toil and sorrow,' 

and, 

"'O'er sin and uncleanness exulting I stand, 

And point to the print of the nails in his hand.' 

"I am now walking by faith in the promises of the 
blessed Son of God, no longer depending upon my emo- 
tional experiences. There is a perfect and abiding calm- 
ness in my heart, through constant and unwavering trust 
in Jesus. If emotional blessings come, all right; I'll be 
that much more thankful to God. I know I am saved ! 
I know the Holy Ghost sanctifies, and that this blessing 
is entirely distinct and separate from conversion and as- 
surance. God has a great many children that have no 
power, and the reason is, they are not sanctified, and 
have not the gift of the Holy Ghost for service. 



162 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

" Reader, if you are not fully the Lord's, give your all 
to Jesus now, and may ' the very God of peace sanctify 
you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul 
and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who 
also will doit.' " 



CHAPTER XIX. 

INCIDENTS. 

The Wedding Garment — Saved at the Eleventh Hour — Not To-Night — 
Answered Prayer — An Infidel Saved — Saved at Midnight — An Infi- 
del's Confession — Grieving the Spirit. 

THE WEDDING GARMENT. 

At the meeting at Veedersburgh, the prospect was at 
first discouraging; not many souls were saved, and the 
work seemed to languish. One evening, after the open- 
ing exercises, Mr. Little read the parable of the man 
without the wedding garment. After the reading he 
paused a moment, and addressing himself, said, "Have 
you the wedding garment on?" and answered, "Yes." 
Turning to the minister on the platform with him, he 
asked, "Have you the wedding garment on?" The 
minister answered, "Yes." Then, coming clown from 
the pulpit, he went slowly down the aisles, asking each 
one the solemn question. When answered in the affirm- 
ative, he passed on; if answered in the negative, he 
asked, "Do you want it on?" If the answer was "Yes," 
he immediately called some one to go and pray with that 
one. If the answer was "E"o," he would say, " Will you 
please withdraw from the house? We want no one ex- 
cept those who have on the wedding garment, or who 
want it on." Thus he went through the entire audience, 

163 



164 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

and after all had retired except those who had answered 
" Yes," he closed the doors, and they formed a prayer- 
roll of one hundred and thirty names of those whom 
they desired to see saved, and began to pray. They re- 
mained three hours on their knees, wrestling' with God. 
Some who left the church said they were driven away, 
and some said, " We will have no congregation to-mor- 
row night." But when the time came for services, the 
church could not hold half the people who came. It 
was learned that while those Christians were on their 
knees, pouring out their souls to God in prayer, men and 
women were walking their rooms, wringing their hands, 
and calling upon God for mercy. In a few days one 
hundred and fi.ve of the names on that prayer-roll were 
saved. 

SAVED AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR. 

In a revival meeting, while the evangelist was pleading 
earnestly for sinners to flee the wrath to come, a man 
sprung to his feet, and, throwing up his hands, exclaimed, 
"I am sinking into hell!" He began crying for mercy, 
and begged to be prayed for. Mr. Little walked down 
the aisle, and kneeling beside him, prayed for him, and 
successfully pointed him to the Savior. The next day he 
was stricken with a fatal disease, and, almost at death's 
door, he exclaimed, " 0, I am so glad I found the Savior 
yesterday; to-day it would have been too late." 

NOT TO-NIGHT. 

At the Baltimore meeting, Mr. Little went to a young 
man with whom he was acquainted, and urged him to 
give his heart to Christ. The young man said, "Not 
to-night; I will come to-morrow night. To-ni^bt I am 









ANSWERED PRAYER. 165 

going to attend a ball, and then I am going to be a Chris- 
tian." When the services closed, he went to the ball; 
and while there, in a quarrel with another young man, 
he was shot. Mr. Little was called to his bed-sicle, but 
found him delirious. He repeatedly cried out, " There 
are devils in this room and around my bed!" "Oh!" 
said the evangelist, a that was an awful night; I was 
nearer hell that night than I ever want to be again." 
The next morning he died, cursing God. How danger- 
ous is delay! "Xow is the accepted time." 

ANSWERED PRAYER. 

During the revival held by the evangelist at "West 
Union, he was requested by a friend to visit and pray 
with a lady — Mrs. Irene Ober — who was an invalid. 

This lady had been sick for six years, and for three 
years had not been out of the house. During the first 
part of her sickness she had had the best medical aid to 
be secured, but at last had given up the use of medicine, 
having a complication of diseases, with no hope of recov- 
ery. Mr. Little found her to be a very earnest Christian, 
who rejoiced in a full surrender to the will of the Lord. 
He prayed with her, and pointed her mind in the direc- 
tion of faith in God as a means of restoration to health. 
She at once began to pray, that she might know the will 
of the Lord. A few days after this he, in company with 
some half dozen other friends, went for the third time to 
see her, and the family, together with the others, gath- 
ered in the invalid's room for prayer. Mr. Little read a 
part of the fourth chapter of James, commenting on the 
words, " The prayer of faith shall save the sick," after 
which all kneeled in prayer. Mr. Little led in prayer, 



166 G. K. LITTLE AND UTS REVIVAL WORE. 

praying for an- immediate act of faith and immediate 
healing. As he ceased, she herself began to pray. Then 
others prayed, until an hour had gone by, finding them 
still on their knees. A solemn hush was in the room, 
and all seemed to realize, in a peculiar manner, the pres- 
ence of Christ. Suddenly, in the midst of prayer, she 
arose upon her feet, exclaiming, "I am healed! I am 
healed! and the power of the Lord has done it!" And 
going from one to another of the friends in the room, 
she kept repeating, "It is the power of the Lord." That 
night she walked to the church, a distance of one half 
mile, and labored in the meeting, and attended all the 
services during the remainder of the revival, creating a 
profound impression, whenever she arose to speak. It 
has now been two years since that time. She is still in 
good health, and working faithfully for the Master. 

AN INFIDEL SAVED. 

A man who was an infidel came to hear the evangelist 
out of mere curiosity. At the close of the service his 
wife, who was a professor of religion and anxious for 
his salvation, said, "Well, what do you think of Mr. 
Little?" He replied, with an oath, "I think he is a fool." 
That night he could not sleep, and early the next morn- 
ing he came to the evangelist's room to beg an interest 
in his prayers, and to ask his pardon. The Spirit of God 
was striving mightily with him, and after a few days, he 
accepted Christ and was saved. 

SAVED AT MIDNIGHT. 

During the revival at Fennimore, Wisconsin, a gentle- 
man came late one night to the place where the evangelist 






SAVED AT MIDNIGHT. 167 

was stopping, and inquired for him. He seemed nervous 
and excited, and when Mr. Little came out of his room, 
said, " Mr. Little, I want you to go and pray with my 
wife; I don't know what is the matter, but she is so dis- 
tressed she can not sleep, and requested me to come and 
see if you would not come and pray with her." 

Mr. Little immediately put on his overcoat and started 
out with the man into the midnight darkness and rain, 
and, on arriving at the house, the lady met him and said, 
"" Do not think me crazy for sending for you, Mr. Little. 
Your sermon to-night has given me so much unrest 
that I felt compelled to send for you to pray for me." 
■"You want to he saved, do you?'' said the evangelist. 
" Yes, sir," replied the woman, " I do, or I would never 
have sent for you at this hour of the night." Mr. Little 
called for a Bible, and turning to the third chapter of 
John, read and commented upon it. The husband lis- 
tened to every word. After reading, Mr. Little said, 
""Now let us have a talk with the Father; and you, my 
dear sister, put your whole trust in Christ, and you shall 
he saved, and the moment you trust him with your whole 
heart, you will know it> too. Let us pray." He then 
offered up a soul-agonizing prayer, when, to his surprise, 
the husband, too, began to cry aloud for mercy, and after 
a short struggle, emerged into the light. Turning to his 
wife, he said, "Oh! my dear wife, just trust Jesus with 
all your heart, and he will save you; it is so easy — sim- 
ply trust." In a few moments the wife arose to her feet 
with a bright countenance, rejoicing in the knowledge of 
pardoned sins. And so husband and wife began the new 
life together, and are now valued members of the church 
at that place. 



168 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

AN INFIDEL'S CONFESSION. 

At McPherson, Kansas, a gentleman called one day 
upon the evangelist and requested a short conversation. 
He was a prominent infidel, and said, "For six years I 
have not been to church. When you came here, I came 
the first night through curiosity to hear the * boy preach- 
er;' the next night I came back again, but said I would 
go no more. When the hour arrived for services the 
next night, I wanted to go again and went. After 
the services I said, 'Well, there is an honest preacher 
who makes no apologies for the Bible, but believes 
what he preaches, and preaches as if he believed every 
word it said.' I came after this because I w r as interested 
in what you said. The last few nights I have not been 
able to close my eyes in sleep, but have lain upon my bed 
and examined my witnesses. I have looked at my infidel 
friends, have examined their characters, and they will 
not stand. Then I have looked at the other side: there 
was my sainted mother; she died in the triumph of her 
faith; and, Mr. Little, I have looked at your weak, frail 
body, and know you are doing so much real hard work, 
and I have said, ' There is something back of that young 
man that is a mystery. If it is not God and his power, 
what is it? There is a reality in it all, and I am deter- 
mined from this hour to be a Christian. My w T ife and 
children shall never hear me swear again, nor say any- 
thing against the Bible; and if God will forgive me, I 
will do all I can for him.'" 

GRIEVING THE SPIRIT. 

In one of the revivals held by the evangelist, a young 
man was deeply convicted of sin, and was deeply im- 



GRIEVING THE SPIRIT. 169 

pressed that it was his duty then to give his heart to 
God. He could not keep his seat, but rising, started 
to go to the altar. Stepping into the aisle, he was over- 
come by a temptation to resist the striving of the Spirit. 
Stamping his foot upon the floor, he said, " I will not 
go," and left the room. From that moment conviction 
left him, and in a state of hopelessness he, the next day, 
said to the evangelist, " Last night I resisted the striving 
of the Spirit, and then the Spirit of God left me. Now 
it is too late." 



CHAPTER XX. 

CONCLUSION. 

In the foregoing pages we have recorded some of the 
labors of an earnest Christian worker, hoping that by 
their perusal many Christians may be quickened, and their 
desires stimulated to live a more consecrated life; for the 
facts of this life show what vast results follow when a 
minister is baptized with the Holy Ghost, and the church 
of God has a mind to work. Our religious life is what 
we make it; and it lies within each one of us to decide 
whether that life shall be a consecration to a glorious 
purpose, and an inspiration to those about us, or a sad 
failure, ruinous to ourselves and disastrous in its influ- 
ence upon all around us. 

If we would reach the highest degree of religious ex- 
perience and usefulness, we must begin at the first step 
of our Christian career to follow closely after Christ — to 
seek to be like him. That life which most nearly resem- 
bles the Master's, will have the greatest measure of peace, 
and will exert the most potent influence over the lives of 
all with whom it may be associated. 

Then, to be like him, we must study the pattern. No 
one who carefully studies the Scriptures can fail to see 
something of the beauty of Christ, or fail to understand 
his character. Neither can he be ignorant of the plain 

170 



CONCLUSION. 171 

religious duty of every Christian. The Bible is God's 
letter to his children, in which he states his will ; and 
many Christians to-day who have scarcely mastered the 
first principles of Christianity, and who bewail their 
leanness, are where they are, because they have never 
studied God's ^Word sufficiently to know what he re- 
quires. And yet the command is positive, " Search the 
Scriptures." 

Again, no Christian can maintain a fervent piety, or 
live long a religious life, who does not hold daily com- 
munion with God. "Pray without ceasing," is the com- 
mand, or be always in the spirit of prayer; and the soul 
loses its highest privilege which neglects to pray. 

And above all, a Christian should seek the baptism of 
the Holy Ghost — seek to be filled with all the fullness 
of God. Then are the soul's powers developed, and 
those powers will tell upon the world. 

How much is accomplished by the well directed effort 
of a soul filled with a burning love for God, and how 
fearful the responsibility of inaction ! How largely other 
souls are influenced by its action, and will finally plead 
its example. "What an incentive to consecrate every 
power to the service of the Master; and it is only through 
such consecration of purpose, such renunciation of self, 
that great results are accomplished. 

If all Christian souls might realize the possibilities be- 
fore them, and come into possession of all the fullness 
God has in reservation for them, then might each life — 
like the one just recorded — be a record of good deeds; 
then would Zion awake and put on her beautiful gar- 
ments, going forth from conquering unto conquest; and 
in the dawning of the eternal morning, each humble 



172 G. K. LITTLE AND HIS REVIVAL WORK. 

Christian, as one of God's true and tried workmen, 
might joyfully lay before him many sheaves. 

"Come, here is work and a rank field -begin: 
Put thou thine edge to the great weeds of sin; 
So shalt thou find the use of life, and see 

Thy Lord, at set of sun, 

Approach and say, 'Well done!'" 



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